" But the angel said to them, “Do not
be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he
is the Messiah, the Lord.”
- Luke 2:10-11
I find it very
interesting that God chose the shepherds as the first group of people on the
earth to reveal the birth of His Son. Sure, the wise men followed a star,
but God sent the angels to announce the birth of the King to the shepherds in
the fields that glorious night. He did not send a host of angels to the
royalty, living in palaces or to the Pharisees or Jewish leaders in
Jerusalem. No, He chose a group of shepherds living nearby to
Bethlehem.
The first Noel the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far
And to the earth, it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep:
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the East, beyond them far
And to the earth, it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.
In that day,
shepherds were often times uneducated, illiterate and ruddy men living in the
fields at night. They weren't likely steep in the knowledge of the scriptures
or prophecies, but they were trusting, compassionate and found to be loyal to
their flocks safety and security. They were employed by the owners of the
flocks to defend their sheep from predators, bandits and other dangers lurking
in the deserts of Israel at night. Typically, there might have been 3 or
4 shepherds per flock rotating shifts throughout the nighttime hours, varying in
age from young teenage boys to old, experienced men.
You recall God had once before chosen a simple shepherd boy as the anointed King of Israel. His choice of an insignificant, humble boy with a heart of love and a fear of the Lord, to lead His people set a precedent that His love was for all mankind, not just the elite. David, a man after God’s own heart, was chosen instead of any of his 7 older, stronger brothers. As the King of Israel, he lead God’s people through trials, wars, abandonment and rejoicing. David was from the city of Bethlehem, and the ancestry line of Jesus Christ that brought Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem that very first Noel.
Noel has French roots and comes from the word natalis in Latin, which means “birth”. The celebrated birth of God’s own Son has been debated for years. Was it in April, September or December has been questioned by skeptics and pundits in attempts to disprove the event from happening at all. Here again is an example of the human knowledge and logic getting in the way of the omnipotence and sovereignty of the Almighty God. Don’t get caught up in the arguments of what day Jesus was born on, but focus your attention on the fact that He was born. He was born to take away the sins of mankind and provide a path of salvation to the one true God. This salvation is available to all of us, from the lowliest to the elite; from the illiterate to the educated. The only individuals left out of this celebration, and destined for eternal Hell are those that refuse to acknowledge the divinity and grace of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
You recall God had once before chosen a simple shepherd boy as the anointed King of Israel. His choice of an insignificant, humble boy with a heart of love and a fear of the Lord, to lead His people set a precedent that His love was for all mankind, not just the elite. David, a man after God’s own heart, was chosen instead of any of his 7 older, stronger brothers. As the King of Israel, he lead God’s people through trials, wars, abandonment and rejoicing. David was from the city of Bethlehem, and the ancestry line of Jesus Christ that brought Mary and Joseph to be in Bethlehem that very first Noel.
Noel has French roots and comes from the word natalis in Latin, which means “birth”. The celebrated birth of God’s own Son has been debated for years. Was it in April, September or December has been questioned by skeptics and pundits in attempts to disprove the event from happening at all. Here again is an example of the human knowledge and logic getting in the way of the omnipotence and sovereignty of the Almighty God. Don’t get caught up in the arguments of what day Jesus was born on, but focus your attention on the fact that He was born. He was born to take away the sins of mankind and provide a path of salvation to the one true God. This salvation is available to all of us, from the lowliest to the elite; from the illiterate to the educated. The only individuals left out of this celebration, and destined for eternal Hell are those that refuse to acknowledge the divinity and grace of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Be Blessed,
Rich
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