The Shepherd Who Cares for His Sheep
And in the region, there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:9)
Luke 2:7-14; Ps. 23 and 100:3; Isa. 40:11; John 10:7-14 and 16:33; Heb 13:5, 20; Jude 24
What Is God Saying?
Luke is the only Gospel writer who describes the glory of God and the song of the angels as they came to ordinary shepherds doing their ordinary work on a hillside near Bethlehem. Shepherds, who worked odd hours and had little time to observe the fine points of ceremonial law, were not high on the list of the orthodox people of their day. They were considered second-class citizens, but God had a better plan.
The first ones to be told about the coming of Jesus, the first ones to see ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sm of the world,’ were those who cared for the little lambs. They probably watched over some of the unblemished lambs who were used in the Temple for Sacrifice. Angels and Shepherds—this combination of the people of Heaven and people of the earth brings us to the heart of Christmas. It tells us that the last shall be first. It tells us that God has a special place in His heart for those who feel they are too commonplace to be noticed or too ordinary to deserve special recognition. The least exalted on earth were the first to hear the greatest news from Heaven, ‘For to you is born this day in the City of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord.’ Such is the beauty and joy of God's coming to earth. No one is left out.
How Does This Apply To Us?
As we read this story about shepherds who were surprised by joy in the middle of the night, there is another lesson to learn, another truth to take home. It has little to do with the annual festival of Christmas and much to do with our daily walk for Christ. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls us His sheep, ‘The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep’ (Jn. 10:11). ‘My sheep hear my voice, and they follow me’ (Jn. 10:27). The Psalmist states that the people of God are ‘the sheep of his pasture’ (Ps. 100:3).
But we also live in the world. Thieves and predatory animals threaten us just like sheep. Out in the world, we are grateful for the Shepherd who keeps watch to guard His sheep. The Shepherd says, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ (Heb. 13:3). The Angel told Joseph that Jesus would be ‘called Emmanuel which is God with us’ (Mt. 1:23). And God is with us keeping watch over His sheep. We are never alone. We are His. The One who is able and who is there is the One to whom we belong.
Pray With Me
Lord Jesus, Shepherd of our souls, good shepherds stay out in the fields to guard their flocks by night. It is wonderful to know that as the Good Shepherd, You are always where I need You most when I need You most. When I am in the world where I must live, You are near to shield me from temptation and protect me from harm. I have to live in the world. I have to withstand its pressures. I cannot pretend they do not exist, but He who is with me is more than a match for all opposition. ‘In the world, you have tribulation, but, be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’
I am not alone in the hour of tribulation. I am not powerless when the enemy towers above me with defiant strength. I am not defenseless when he hides in the shadows, waiting for the chance to strike. You are there ‘in the field’ where I need You most. You are ‘keeping watch over your flock’ as those shepherds did long ago. The sheep belonged to them. Thank You, Jesus, that I may know I belong to You. You redeemed me from the bondage of evil. You brought me into the family of God. You put in my heart the joy of eternal hope. I am Yours; You are mine. ‘I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me.’ That is why I rej0ice- in the field and through the night. The One Who is able, and the One Who is there is the One to Whom I belong.
In the name of the Lord who is my Shepherd. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
When a little lamb is lost or senses that he has wandered into a dangerous situation, he can do nothing more than bleat: no words, just a faint but urgent cry. The shepherd's ear is tuned to the sound, and he will quickly do what is necessary to defend his property against a thief or beast. In prayer, confronted with problems we cannot solve or trials we cannot bear, we sometimes feel that we cannot articulate the words that arise from our hearts. Do not panic, do not fear. ‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness, interceding for us with sighs too deep for words’ (Rom. 8:28).
God hears unspoken words. In prayer, God is not just out there. He is also right here where we hurt and wonder, where we stumble and blunder, where the fields are vast, and the nights are dark, and we feel alone and afraid. The Good Shepherd never leaves us, and He never forsakes us. He ‘gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in his bosom’ (Isaiah 40:11). Don't worry. He can hear and He does hear even their wordless bleats.
