Shepherds Glorify God
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Key Verse: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.” Selected Scripture: |
IMAGINE THE MIRACULOUS event that had just occurred on this special night, and which the lowly shepherds had the privilege of witnessing. They were gathered at night watching over their flocks in the pastures around the city of Bethlehem. An angel had come to them appearing as we read in the words “the glory of the Lord shone round about them.” (Luke 2:9) Their initial fears were soothed by the assurance from God’s messenger, that they should “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.”—vs. 10
The angel went on to proclaim that, during that day, there had been born in David’s city, “a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (vs. 11) This event serves as a lesson to remind us that fear is one of the most dominant impulses with any revelation from the Lord. Men realize that they are imperfect, and may instinctively fear further condemnation and trouble. It is also a lesson for the true children of God today, as it was for the angels at that time, to assure the world that God is more powerful than all their fears. Only the true Christian has that “perfect love [which] casteth out fear.”—I John 4:18
The ‘good tidings’ refer to the Gospel, for it is a good message, which assures the deliverance and blessing of the entire world of mankind. In a greater sense, it refers to the coming of Messiah’s kingdom that we are assured will be established. It will be a time of love from the Heavenly Father when all “the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”—Isa. 35:5
The phrase “good will toward men” (Luke 2:14), is a declaration of what God purposes to do, and it will include “the times of the restitution of all things.” This coming time of great blessing was spoken to us by “the mouth of all of his holy prophets since the world began.” (Acts 3:20,21) We realize that it was a prophecy of God’s purpose to bring all of this about through the newly born child. The steps toward this would include the birth of Jesus, his death on the cross, his resurrection and ascension, and the selection of the church. The messianic kingdom will complete the prophecy.
After the “heavenly host” of angels left them, and with the songs of rejoicing still fresh in their minds, the shepherds desired to go to see this wondrous thing. (Luke 2:13-15) They had recognized that the angels and their message came from the Lord God. They, with one accord, desired to visit this “babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.” (vs. 12) We are told that they made haste to go to the city of David and, when they arrived, they excitingly told all whom they came in contact with the wonderful things which were told to them by the angels. “All they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.—vs. 18
It was a grand truth, and one that was sent through these humble, but trustworthy, human agents who were honored instruments in God’s hand. They then returned to their flocks, fully assured that the promised seed had really come as God had foretold.