The Shepherd’s Field
(Luke 2:8-20)
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will
among men" (Luke 2:14)
The Shepherd’s Field overlooks Bethlehem, and on a certain night, it was occupied
by an ordinary group of shepherds, tending their sheep. This was just one day among
many to them, and yet tonight, they would see the angels of the Lord. The word
"ordinary" really applies to them. We don’t know their hearts, but
they were obscure to the world, obscure in their country - we don’t even know their
names. (God knows their names).
Yet an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and after telling them to "not be afraid" (Luke 2:10 - they would have been terrified),
they were given incredible visions and words of comfort. "There
is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"
(Luke 2:11). And the encouraging news (in addition to the wonder that the Father has
given His Messiah to the world) is about these Shepherds.
They were plain men. God takes ordinary people and does WONDERFUL
things for them and through them. He takes people like these shepherds, and shows
them "a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,"
and saying "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men" (Luke 2:14). Ordinary people, and yet God opened
the heavenlies and showed them something of His glory. He has opened the heavens for
you, in Christ, and wants you to come in to be with Him.
This was also seen in Simeon, an old and devout man, who was spending his life in
obscurity, waiting for the Messiah of Israel. It had been revealed to him that he
would not die before he had seen the Messiah (Luke 2:26). His whole life was summed
up in the moment when the Holy Spirit was upon him and he took the Child into his arms.
He blessed our God, and said: "Now Lord, Thou dost
let Thy bond-servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy
salvation, which Thou has prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation
to the Gentiles (Isaiah 9:2), and the glory of Thy people,
Israel."
These are ordinary people (we are all ordinary), but with a special difference:
They had seen the glory of God. We are told about Anna the prophetess, of the
tribe of Asher (a supposedly "lost" tribe of Israel – nothing is ever lost
with God), who had lived an obscure, devout life in the Temple, for many decades.
"She came up and began giving thanks to God, and
continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem"
(Luke 2:35). This lady had seen the Messiah of Israel, and the Light of this world.
The shepherds (Luke 2:15 & context) did what we should do, for they said, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened
which the Lord has made known to us." They not only listened, but they
also ACTED on what they heard. Jesus said "Ask and it
shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you"
(Matthew 7:7). The shepherds did seek (and you and I need to seek the Lord), and
they DID find the consolation of Israel, the Messiah of God.
Another very interesting, ordinary person, is Elijah the Prophet. We think of him
as one of the great ones (and he was), who prayed and stopped the rain for three years,
and then prayed again, and it rained. He brought fire down from the sky and defeated
the priests of Baal. And yet, James refers to him as an ordinary person just like us
(James 5:17 & context). Within that context, James says "the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
YOU can pray and God will hear.
Elijah found his righteousness in the God of Israel, as did Simeon and Anna, who
authenticated the Messiah of God. The shepherds were just plain men (so were the
prophets and apostles), who saw the glory of God, and acted on what they had seen.
James’ qualification about Elijah was yes, he was ordinary, but he had come to
God, received righteousness from Him, and then could accomplish much.
Father, we surrender to You. So often, we have considered ourselves to be more
than we actually are. Really, we simply are the sheep of Your field. You call
each of us to be shepherds, one to another. Let us find contentment, that we may
remain in the field of the Lord, and then, Father, if You will, Reveal to us, the Glory
of the Lord. And let us tell others of the wonder of Your love. In Jesus Name.
Amen.
Ron Beckham, Pastor
Friday Study Ministries
www.fridaystudy.org
ron@fridaystudy.org
