Untitled Sermon (9)

God comes the the lowly

One may think that shepherds were an elite group during this time. Moses was a Shepherd, David was a Shepherd, in fact Jesus himself would be called “the good shepherd.” However, during this time shepherds were a lowly class. According to the standards of the Jewish leaders, shepherds were unclean and untrustworthy. The Jewish teacher Philo, who was a contemporary of Jesus said of shepherds were “held to be mean and inglorious.”

These men were outcasts, separated form the greater community of Judaism. They were not allowed in the Temple. They were not aloud to give testimony for a dispute. Yet, it was these shepherds that God intended to announce the birth of Christ too.

Why not reveal himself to the high priest? I am sure there was a Pharisee somewhere in Jerusalem that would have been a good candidate for this encounter. Why reveal himself to the lowliest class? It is said that the only people who were considered lower that the shepherds were lepers. Perhaps the only reason the shepherds were held to even this high of regard is because these men kept the animals that would be used for sacrifice in the temple.

This is remarkable. Yet, this is that pattern we see time and time again throughout the Bible. Consider a few...

Abraham was too old to have Children. Yet, God created a chosen people through him.

Moses had a speech impediment. Yet, God used him to speak his judgement against Pharoah.

Naomi was a widow.

Elijah fought with depression.

The list goes on and on.

These examples, as well as God’s visit to the shepherds remind us that God draws near to the lowly, the needy, the poor in spirit. It is those that are look down on by the “good people” of the time that God uses. He does not come to those who believe themselves to be self sufficient.

It is in the sermon on the mount that Jesus taught,

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “

 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

This season, many of us feel like the shepherds. Isolation, seclusion, aloneness have been characteristics of this year. We can relate to the shepherds, alone in the fields. Perhaps you have come here this morning feeling like the outcast. It’s possible that you have stumble upon this service unsure if you will find somewhere to belong. Let me encourage you, the God who revealed himself to the shepherds in the fields of Bethlehem is the same God who is visiting you this morning. His message is the same. Fear not! I bring you good new of great joy!

As I was preparing this sermon there is a question that I could not escape. What reason would the shepherds have to be afraid? Indeed, it would be terrifying to be tending to their sheep and suddenly a great light accompanied by the thundering voice of an angel engulfed the night sky. But, was there another type of fear that the angels had in mind when they told the shepherds to not fear?

I imagine that the shepherds had many fights with wolves who threatened their sheep, saw countless eclipse’s and shooting stars. Shepherds were tough, and not easily frightened. When I was a kid I would watch John Wayne westerns with my grandfather. I imagine the shepherds were the John Wayne types. It was unlikely that much of anything would frighten them. Yet, on this night It is possible that, at first glance, they would have traded this encounter for a hungry wolf.

This same fear is seen elsewhere. In Isaiah chapter 6, Isaiah the Lord on his throne and responded, “Woe is me!” In seeing the Lord on his throne he was aware of his sin and his unworthiness to be in the presence of God’s holiness. It did not help that the shepherds were considered socially unclean. I think it is possible that they felt this was the inevitable judgment that awaited people like them. Isaiah was certainly aware of his uncleanliness when he saw the glory of God. This uncleanliness would make the shepherds unworthy to come into the presence of God.

This is not the first time we encounter the phrase “fear not” in the first two chapter of Luke.

Angel comes to Zechariah to tell him about the birth of his son John. “Fear not” the angel said to Zechariah.

Next and angel visits Mary to tell her about the birth of Christ. “Do not be afraid” the angel says.

In each scene there was a lowliness that characterized the receivers of God’s message. Zechariah and Elizabeth had no child. Mary was an unknown woman who was engaged to be married to Jospeh. The image here is man’s weakness which is incapable of bearing the weight of the presence of God.

Maybe you can relate. You have been in the depths of your humanity. The dungeon of your sin. The despair of your condition. The fear that a visitation from God would certainly be one of displeasure.

I think it’s right to think that this is was made the shepherds so afraid on that night. Sure, it was probably startling to be warming themselves by the fire with their sheep sleeping next to them and suddenly a bright light engulfed the night sky. But, what was more terrifying was for holiness of God to meet their unholiness. For the splendor of God’s glory to intersect with the darkness of their iniquity.