God's glory sometimes causes fear and not faith!
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| English: Angel of the Lord window attributed to the Quaker City Stained Glass Company of Philadelphia, PA 1912. St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Charleston, SC (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Shepherding is an unpleasant task because sheep are unpleasant and smelly creatures. Shepherds were not highly regarded in Israel, yet God had shown a special affection for them through the centuries. It was to an exiled Hebrew from the land of Egypt, who was shepherding the flocks of a Midianite priest that God appeared in the burning bush (Exodus 3). It was a shepherd from Bethlehem that God called to become Israel’s greatest king (1 Sam. 16:1–13). The prophet Amos was also a shepherd (Amos 1:1).
It is most likely, and would be most appropriate, that these shepherds at Bethlehem were watching over flocks of sheep destined for the sacrificial altar in Jerusalem. Whether this is true, it was to these lowly people that an angel of God appeared, not to the movers-and-shakers of Palestinian culture.
They were frightened at the appearance of this angel, 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” (Luke 2:10–11). Notice that the angel did not say, “a Savior has been born to a girl named Mary.” No, the Savior had been born to them.
This Savior was for them. He was their Savior. Like the sacrificial lambs of their flocks, he was born to be their Lamb of God. He would be their Savior, their Deliverer. He would be the Christ, the Anointed One of God. He would be their Lord, their King, their new David. God wanted shepherds present at the birth of his Lamb, so the angel directed them so they might find him.
Here is Luke’s third hymn, this time sung by an army of angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
God has sent his Lamb. Let all the earth rejoice, for the Lord of Hosts is proclaiming peace to the world.
Just as we have seen God use obscure events and places, so he also appears to and uses obscure people. This was true throughout Jesus’ life, and it is true today. Thank God today that he can use you right now, regardless of your present situation, if you will continually follow after the Lamb.
