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The Significance of the Shepherds
I was demoted.
The Christmas Play that I was to star in as Joseph had to go on without me.
I have shared with you that for whatever reason, I was late to the service in which I was to be Joseph.
By the time I got there, the decision was made for me to no longer be in the esteemed role as Joseph.
Despite my pleading and my attempt to be so bold as to walk out on the stage to bully the stand-in Joseph away, I was demoted to the role of what I thought then was a lowly shepherd.
I have since learned that there was great significance in that first birth announcement that was made to these lowly shepherds.
Why were they considered to be lowly?
Scripture shows us that shepherds were at one time a respected people.
For example, David is portrayed as a shepherd boy and one that was quite talented.
1 Samuel 16:23 indicates that the shepherd boy David would play the harp and soothe King Saul. 1 Samuel 16:23
This gave much comfort to a troubled King Saul.
However, most of the evidence of this age shows that the character of the shepherds was not too impressive.
They were banned from religious customs because they were considered unclean.
They could not testify in the court system because the were deemed untrustworthy.
They had a reputation for using land that wasn’t theirs to use and were considered to be nuisances.
When it came to their character, the shepherds were typically not liked.
However, their care was quite unique.
They were to take care of the sheep at all costs.
They had several tasks they did every day and night.
They were to watch for enemies trying to attack or even steal the sheep.
They had to care for the weak and wounded sheep.
They spent time looking for the lost sheep and freeing the trapped sheep from the snares and thickets.
They had to love the sheep so show the sheep these shepherds could be trusted.
The shepherds lived with the sheep outside, no matter what the element were.
One theory even suggests that these shepherds on that particular night were caring for sheep that were going to be use in the coming Passover.
Their calling was unique and scripture does show that shepherds had a tender side as well.
They constantly counted their sheep.
The shepherds would lift the weak sheep on their shoulders.
The shepherds would also create pens to keep the sheep safe and often sleep at the gate so nothing could attack them.
Shepherds in both the Old Testament and New Testament symbolize all the ordinary people that have received the gospel.
We see this retrospectively as a prophecy fulfilled.
I love the Christmas story and how it tells the Good News, don’t you?
The details are quite important.
Luke continues this story from detailing the purpose of the census and the way God works through a government that was anti-God and giving us the details of how the pronouncement was made.
Notice the significance of the surroundings.
The Significance of the Surroundings
The phrase “keeping watch” tells us more than just a time.
The Greek words show that it literally meant “watching watches.”
Outside the town of Bethlehem, there was a watch tower called Migdal Eder.
The purpose of this watch tower was to watch the flocks specifically destined for sacrifice in the temple.
In fact, that is what it means, the watchtower of the flock.
It was a Jewish conviction that when the Messiah came, He would be born in Bethlehem and revealed from the Migdal Eder.
I mention these verses because the Jewish tradition and conviction I mentioned, stems back from this time mentioned in Genesis, and it is mentioned in Micah.
It is important because the place of the shepherds was close to the place where Jesus was born.
It was close to the cradle so to speak.
I have indicated on the outline that it was calm and clear.
You know, the song says so, “All is calm, all is bright.”
The truth of the matter is that there is nothing in scripture to support this.
However, I believe it was because it was an ordinary night.
Until the announcement came, nothing out of the ordinary took place.
As detailed as Luke is, there is nothing to show that a special weather phenomenon took place or anything similar that could explain what happened in their surroundings.
What happened that Holy Night was indeed an extraordinary event on a very ordinary night.
In fact, I find it quite hilarious that the ones caring for the sacrificial lambs weren’t good enough for the religious right, yet they are the first to learn of the Messiah’s birth!
Those who made the critical customs were held back from the news that Christ had come!
The lowly shepherds received the highest news of all!
What a statement they received!
But notice the significance of that statement.
The Significance of the Statement
First, notice who made the statement.
The Bible says, “An angel of the Lord appeared to them.”
We have already established that there is no scriptural reference for a weather phenomenon or the such, so we do not have any doubt that it was indeed an angel of the Lord.
We also see evidence of the statement be accompanied by the “glory of God.”
The word for glory is doxa which we get the word doxology from.
This glory that was “shone all around them” would have been terrifying.
There are several mentions of an angel of the Lord being used by God in Scripture.
Each instance, provokes a startling that is seen here by the shepherds as well.
All of these verses indicate to me that it was a startling experience.
Now I have never had an experience like that where I knew that an angel of the Lord appeared to me.
However, I can tell you that I have been around angels unaware.
The Christmas story is quite clear that the shepherds were quite clear that this angel who was later accompanied by other angels, was something from God.
We can believe that the statement that was made by an angel of the Lord.
So what was the statement?
I love that the first thing the word of the Lord does is to remove the fear.
“Do not be afraid.”
They just had the ba-jee-bies scared out of them, and this angel says, “do not be afraid.”
“I bring you good news of great joy.”
Oh the joy of good news!
That phrase literally means, “I evangelize to you!” Oh my if we would catch that phrase and share it more!
The angels had good, good news!
Don’t you need good news today?
Isaiah proclaimed it long before the angel did!
So why does it matter?
I am glad you asked!
It matters because “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord.”
Oh my, “He is Christ the Lord!” Christos.
Christ means the anointed one in Greek.
Lord is the transliteration of a Hebrew term that has a similar meaning from God’s name Yahweh.
Luke is giving us a double dose of who this Child is!
He goes on in Acts to describe Him more:
Paul helps out in 2 Corinthians 4:5
Do you see what happened with this announcement to the lowly shepherds?
As Charles Spurgeon wrote, “The Infinite and the Infant.
Oh the Wonder of Christmas!
It is a miracle of miracles that the Infinite should become an Infant.”
If that was not enough, the angel of the Lord then gives the shepherds a sign.
The Significance of the Sign
Don’t miss the significance of the sign: Christ the Lord was the Baby in a manger that was God Himself with all power and all authority under heaven.
They were distinctively told where to find the Newborn Child.
There were distinguishing characteristics.
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