Lowly Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

Sheep and shepherds. My favorite Christmas time subject. I love sheep and shepherds. There they were out on a hillside watching their flocks and all of a sudden an angel appeared. They were afraid but in an instant the angel spoke to them GREAT news of joy! The angel explained about the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem! It was wonderful news that would cause the shepherds to pick up their crooks and travel to the city. And they were the first to hear the great news. It wasn't a king or a rich land owner, the angel came to the shepherds - lowly, uneducated, unclean, smelly, without a real home, always on the move. But the shepherds were attentive, protective, caregivers to their sheep, and familiar with the land around them. How appropriate, how ironic, that the Savior of the world would be announced to the shepherds! God come down to be a human baby born in a stable was introduced first to the sheep keepers.

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another. "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about," (Luke 2:8-15 NIV).

I love the image of shepherds on a quiet hillside in the dark suddenly awakened by the brilliance of an angel arriving to celebrate the Lord's birth! A fireworks show just for the lowly shepherds! Magnificence and grandeur fit for a true King, shared with the guardians of the sheep. It is a scene fit for music. A song written by Nahum Tate in 1700 with music by George Frederick Handel in 1728 tells the story beautifully:

 "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks"

"While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, The angel of the Lord came down, And glory shone around, And glory shone around. 

"Fear not!" said he; for mighty dread Had seized their troubled mind, "Glad tidings of great joy I bring To you and all mankind, To you and all mankind. 

"To you, in David's town this day, Is born of David's line, The Savior who is Christ the Lord, And this shall be the sign; And this shall be the sign: 

"The heavenly Babe you there shall find To human view displayed, All meanly wrapped in swathing bands, And in a manger laid; And in a manger laid. 

"All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace: Good will hence-forth from heav'n to men, Begin and never cease, Begin and never cease." Amen.

May you feel the excitement of the shepherds as you anticipate the anniversary of our Savior's birth on Christmas Day.