Luke 2:11
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
When the angel came to the shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus, he made it a point to say that Jesus was born in the city of David. This was not a mere honorific or marketing term, the way we might say that Nashville is “Music City.” The angel is making sure that we do not miss that this baby is the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isaiah 11:1), and especially that we see the connection with Isaiah 9:7.
Did you see it? Unto you is born this day, in the city of David; that sounds an awful lot like to us a child is born who will rule on the throne of David. So with one little loaded phrase, God is telling us that we can rest in the rule of His Son, who has authority over all things. He is sovereign over our circumstances. He rules over nations. He governs the future. Our anxiety, our stress, our frustration, and anger at our circumstances and the world around us can be put in his hands. And his rule will not only be eternal, but it will only bring more peace. This was not a cherubic birth announcement in soft colors and gentle tones–it was the declaration of victory by a heavenly warrior, victory wrapped up in a baby boy. He, friends, is the answer to our fearful, anxious weariness. He is the resolution to those problems that overwhelm us.
I originally wrote this post for my church, Immanuel Nashville, in our Daily Pulse email. If you want encouragement from God’s word delivered Monday thru Friday to your inbox, I encourage you to subscribe.