Goodwill toward man
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8 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Shepards where considered one of the meaner demographic elements in Palestinian society.
Luke mentions two characteristics of Shepherds.
1. Lived outside in the open country
2. Take turns in night watches. They had rotating shifts
Nomadic Shepards who where separated from societies for long periods of times were inevitably subjected to suspicion and scorn.
These where people because there is distance it cause suspicion.
Have you ever had that one person who was in church but then all of sudden they disappeared? Then they come back that can be suspicious to some.
But close proximity cultivates intimacy.
Shepards in this day where often accused of praying on lonely travelers, they were often suspect of practicing “the craft of robbers”.
Those from Baltimore they where considered to be the stick up boys. lol
Because of there prolong absences and horrible reputation they where often disqualified from being credible witnesses.
A Third century rabbi said about psalm 23 there isn’s a more despised occupation in the world than that of Shepherds.
Why you think David was so over looked by his father. and despised by his brothers ?
Its beautiful how Jesus identifies Himself with the Shepherds. Saying He knows His sheep by name!
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
&
And saying He lays down His life for the flock/ and That He is the Good Shepherd
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.
13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.
It shows that God identify’s with even some of the most horrible of all sinners .
The Shepards seen the angel and they where greatly afraid. The Shepards are use to being on guard fighting wild beast.
The Shepherd are use to being the intimidators.
But God can turn the toughest man to a coward. The toughest fight the sharpest person to an idiot.
You have these Shepards who where considered to be the lowest in society.
As far as class where concerned they where amongst the lowest.
The Shepherds where in the country side, near Bethlehem.
According to the Mishnah, livestock within a certain circumference of Jerusalem were reserved for sacrifice in the Jerusalem temple.
Especially for passover times.
So every year they are thinking about the Messiah.
The coming of Christ !
The fact that the angels appeared to the shepherds exemplifies “good news to the poor”!
1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
Luke quotes theses verse again as defining characteristic of Jesus ministry. luke 4:18,7:22
Its almost like the Shepherds where ordained to recognize the Good Shepherd.
14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Peace here refers to the fullness of blessing.
Theres so many wills in this world.
We think our wills are stronger then what they are.
But they aren’t
Our wills are like Pauls in Romans 7.
The things I will to do those are the things I dont and the things I will not to do those are the things I do.
Like we have the will but not the power.
God has the will and the power.
God willed to send His Son and He did just that.
I can’t will much . I cant will to be taller.
The goodwill that he is referring not mans goodwill but Gods.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
NIV “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
NlT “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
Amp Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well pleased [men of goodwill, of His favor].
This is Gods bestowing his grace toward man.
His unmerited favor toward man.
Ultimately His life toward man.
His incomprehensible favor towards man.