Advent: Shepherds

This Advent I am taking a closer look at four of the characters in the Christmas story. 

I didn't appreciate what I had when we lived out in the country.  

As a young boy living in rural Missouri I had the night sky.  It wasn't until I moved into town as a man and then spent Summer nights in southwest Iowa looking up at the glorious black speckled with countless stars that I realized what I should have cherished.

Imagine how dark the night was in ancient Israel.  No electric lights, just dark sky and billions of stars.

This is the night sky that the shepherds experience that first Christmas.  That is until the glory of the Lord shone around them (Luke 2:9).  

God's glory was not just the bright light in the dark night, but it was the announcement of good news (read that Gospel) of great joy that will be for all the people.  That night God announced the fulfillment of Isaiah chapter 9 to men working a menial job, and the night shift of that job.  God revealed His most glorious good news to shepherds on a dark night.

See this through these parallel passages:

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone." Isaiah 9:2
"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them..." Luke 2:8-9

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this." Isaiah 9:6-7 

"For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire." Isaiah 9:5
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased." Luke 2:14

The shepherds, those who were not the cream of the crop of society, were told the prophet Isaiah's words have been verified, go see it!  So, they just ran (read like old lady on the bench in Forest Gump).  They went and saw the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.  They saw and believed.  

The shepherds in the story went from the darkness to light, just like we go from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of the light (Colossians 1:13).  They went from lowly shepherds with a distinct smell to understanding and believing what the religious elite would fail to grasp and love.

Who are the shepherds in your life?  Who are the people that you might overlook and fail to share the good news with?  Proclaim the Gospel and enlighten the darkness with the news that what God promised long ago came true and what He has promised and we wait for will certainly occur.  

God has good news of great joy for you today.