There were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night (Luke 2:8)

The fact that shepherds were even on the guest list to the greatest birth-day party ever is strange. That they received their invitation via an angel is even stranger. That this messenger’s singing telegram was accompanied by a sky-filled choir of heavenly beings with a word of good news for the entire world is the strangest fact of all.

Who were these all-important ovine escorts; why did they rate such VIP treatment; and who thought it was a good idea to entrust these shabby shepherds with a song of salvation for every soul in every state?

Unfortunately, we have no answers to any of these questions. The hard-and-fast details of this event will forever remain for us (to mis-use the words of Winston Churchill) a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in a mystery.

Nevertheless, here are some interesting items to consider:
  1. Every shepherd was a midwife—who better to have attend a birth in a barn?
  2. Sheep were absolutely dependent on their shepherds for the essentials of life—water, food and protection. Look at the connection between this vocation and Israel’s leaders: Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David… .
  3. Shepherds became a favorite image of the prophets and psalmists for God’s ideal servant/king: He will feed his flock like a shepherd… (Isaiah 40:11).
  4. In the Old Testament, God claims this occupation for his own: I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep… (Ezekiel 34:15).
  5. Jesus himself makes the very same claim: I am the good shepherd… (John 10:14).
  6. Finally, one of the most spiritual and sublime psalms attributes the role of shepherd to God, for which every one of us—even people who have never seen a shepherd or sheep—can give thanks: The Lord is my Shepherd… (Psalm 23).

On this eve of a new calendar year, I encourage you to contemplate the role of the shepherds—in the story of Jesus’ birth, in God’s vision for the people of the promise, in your life and in mine as we seek to live our lives in praise of and in service to God’s will.

Blessings,
Pastor Scott Fuller

 

Fullers' sabbatical adventures, Summer 2010