“When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.’ “Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.’ This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.’ For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “The angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people. Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. “There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field and keeping watch by night over their flock. So, who were these shepherds then? If they weren’t the poorest of the poor and specially chosen by God because of it…then why these guys? A quick look at Jewish priestly duties explains it all…without popping the romantic bubble surrounding that first Noel. No, they were actually higher up the social scale than that. Yes, they may have been stinky and perhaps a bit disheveled, but they were not poor, country-bumpkin farmers scratching out a living as we’ve always been told. But like many stories, sometimes they get spun by culture over time. The common story goes that the shepherds were poor, stinky, and ragtag. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, the angels of heaven appeared to announce the greatest of all news in the history of news!
There they were, the shepherds, watching their flocks of sheep, protecting them from predators just like any other night of the year.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11
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