Shepherds Abiding

“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 Bethlemen to see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:8-20

I’ve been thinking about the groaning of creation in waiting for what was promised, a dear Savior that would redeem all. Since the beginning of time, they waited, and they waited a few thousand years before it would actually come to pass. How glorious was it for those who got to see it first hand, tangibly experiencing the deliverance of a promise so long waited for?

In meditating on the Christmas story this year, I was really struck by the fact God had the angel tell the shepherds first of the Savior’s birth.

I think about the Shepherds and what they did every day and night. Their flock was dependent upon them, and so it was the same mundane day after day in so many ways. They took turns keeping watch at night, three hours at a time. Around Passover every year and also during the time that Jesus was born, the sheep were sent out to the desert. The shepherds watched them in their vulnerable state as they wished to preserve them from the beasts of prey such as wolves. It wasn’t until the end of the first rain that they would reign their sheep back in again from the desert. That is a lot of diligent watching. That is a lot of understanding of the nature of the flock under their care. That is a lot of wisdom and discernment in what to do and when.

Yet, I imagine they were faithful to it. I imagine they accepted that it was their lot and went about doing it. I wonder if during it, they were consciously waiting for a miracle or a sign from God in the midst of the seemingly mundane. I wonder if they had a realization that the very things they were doing every day were shaping them in such a way that they would properly respond and act when their whole world would be changed by the appearing of an angel.

When the angel appeared to them, did it take them completely by surprise? Surely they had heard of the promise of a Savior, because the revelation by the angel that the Savior was born was not a complete surprise to them. We are told that they responded in fear. They feared that they were the subjects of heavenly rebuke. Proverbs 1:7 states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. These shepherds immediately knew and recognized what was before them, and I imagine they were in the right kind of fear. It only begins to show the wisdom that they soon displayed.

The angel was appearing to tell of good news. He first tells them not to be afraid, but to know that they were the first bearers of “good news of great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Vs 11

What would it be like to be the first people told of the fulfillment of a promise so long awaited for? To be entrusted with such knowledge and opportunity to witness? And what is it to know God in such a way that as soon as this happens, they immediately believed, responded and went to go see…?

And once they were there, to see it fulfilled…how glorious to see a promise delivered in such a humble state, but exactly as it was proclaimed to them by the angel: “a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger, [this is the sign to you].” Upon seeing this sight, they declared and proclaimed what the angel had told them, confirming the faith of a virgin mother and husband in believing that what was said to pass now had. The shepherds were instrumental in the heart of Mary and Joseph, and Mary treasures their words as confirmation of hers and God’s son truly born before them in the flesh.

The Shepherds responded out of a proper fear of God, obedience, and reverence. The angel gave them exactly where they needed to go, what they needed to see, and the words they needed to say. They thus became the first proclaimers of the new Gospel and Christ the Lord. Among the presence of Mary and Joseph, they proclaimed the very thing the angel said to them: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

Wow. What an experience. What a privilege to be seemingly ordinary men and shepherds singled out by God to be the first to see and proclaim the fulfillment of a long awaited promise. It seems like the story should end here with the shepherds. But, it doesn’t.

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things hey had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” –vs 20

Yes. The shepherds return to their fields and flocks after seeing this sight. They glorified God for what had been told to them through the prophets and gospel history. And as shepherds in the fields, they were able to carry this message and experience forth for all those among them to hear. They had no opportunity for wavering conviction in such belief, as they were granted the privilege to see it firsthand. They become instruments of the gospel, exactly where they are at.
A seemingly mundane existence as a shepherd. But a glorious purpose in doing that very task. God had them exactly where they needed to be before the angel appeared to them, using their earthly duties to shape them in such a way that they would properly respond. And he doesn’t release them from their earthly duties after they experienced what they did. He had them return to the fields…because that’s where it was best. Though it would be easy to be resigned at this fact, the shepherds went forth praising the Lord for the privilege to bear such a message. And they carried it forth into the fields…exactly the place where they began.

May we not underestimate the daily duties before us, and trust that God has purpose in them. May we grow in our fear and reverence of the Lord and thus grow in wisdom. May we be ready to respond and act when He does intersect our daily path with something unexpected but of Him. May we treasure in our hearts what is given in those times, and carry them back with us to the “daily grind,” worshipping, glorifying, and praising Him all the more.

It is not a punishment or a neglecting of us on the Lord’s part to place us in what we deem ordinary circumstances. Rather, the circumstances are instrumental in preparing us for those extraordinary times when He deems us ready. Therefore, may we be diligent in the ordinary, allowing Him to shape us, lead us and teach us. And when the moment of the extraordinary does come and then comes to pass, may we then treasure what has been given to us and give it to others. We are always blessed…ordinary or extraordinary, for we are Known.