Yet, shepherds had a tender side, counting the sheep constantly ( Jer. Only God would visit those in such a low occupation and raise them to witness to his salvation. Shepherding was also a lonely occupation, particularly at night, as a shepherd stood his watch, making sure sleeping sheep did not wake up and wander and that prowling predators did not attack and devour the sheep. Many shepherds were accused of robbery and using land they had no rights to. Shepherding had changed from a family business as in David’s time ( 1 Sam. What a beautiful foretaste of the salvation to come: God gave the first message of His Son to common shepherds, those looked upon as sinners. They were despised because they were unable to attend services and to keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing. Their reputation was lowly at best, and religious people snubbed and ignored them. Shepherds would seldom be found praising and worshiping God as a result, they were looked upon as anything but worshippers. In the eyes of many, an angel would never appear to a shepherd. The gospel is for those who know they need Jesus! There was the unbelievable appearance of a real angel to shepherds. God comes only to those who sense their need. (Quoting from TDNT, Vol 6, pp 488-491) The only people lower than shepherds at that particular time in Jewish history were lepers. Kent Hughes – According to the Mishnah, shepherds were under a ban. Such people are later described as those who were “looking for the consolation of Israel” ( Lk 2:25) and the “redemption of Jerusalem” (2:38). That they were singled out to receive this great honor suggests that these shepherds were devout men, who believed in the true and living God. Shepherds were, however, lowly, humble people they certainly were not the ones who would be expected to receive the most significant announcement in history. 40:11), while Jesus described Himself as the “good shepherd” ( John 10:11, 14 cf. Moreover, the Old Testament refers metaphorically to God as the “Shepherd of Israel” ( Ps. 16:11–13), were shepherds at some point in their lives. Two of the greatest figures in Israel’s history, Moses ( Ex. That is not to say, however, that being a shepherd was an illegitimate or disreputable occupation. As a result, they were viewed as being in continual violation of the religious laws, and hence ceremonially unclean. Because sheep required care seven days a week, shepherds were unable to fully comply with the man-made Sabbath regulations developed by the Pharisees. They were uneducated and unskilled, increasingly viewed in this era as dishonest, unreliable, unsavory characters, so much so that they were not allowed to testify in court. Shepherds were near the bottom of the social ladder. John MacArthur on shepherds – The good news of the Savior’s birth came first to a most unlikely group of people. Normally the birth of a prince would be announced to kings and other dignitaries, but this “princely” announcement was given to lowly shepherds, not to priests, rulers, kings, Pharisees nor Scribes, not to the great men of Israel but common shepherds, who as a class were actually considered as “outcasts” by the Jewish hierarchy! The irony is that shepherds with no name given were to hear the announcement of the coming of the Chief Shepherd whose Name would be above every name. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:7,8: And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger because there was no place for them in the inn. Christmas is truly a celebration of joy as God moved not in culture or religion or politics but in the hearts of common people who were humble to see and obey the heavenly vision from Yahweh. The world was too preoccupied to be listening and too prideful to be shown the glory of God. God chose cultural outcasts and Gentiles to partake in the greatest moment in history in a stable and a simple home. It was not in the Temple or the court of a king or on the political or cultural stage. It should be noted that it was not a king, a high priest, a religious Pharisee or Sadducee, or an emperor that received the invitation. God chose two groups of people who had the privilege of seeing the Messiah, the Savior, and the future King in person.
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