Study Guide: The Night the Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth
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Topics:
The humble setting and ancient customs of the shepherds.
The content and purpose of the Angel's announcement.
The significance of the sign: the Manger and Swaddling Clothes.
The emotional and spiritual reactions to the event (Fear, Wonder, Pondering, Praise).
Summary
This passage details the divine announcement of Jesus' birth to a group of humble shepherds watching their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. The story moves quickly from their initial fear at the sight of the Glory of the Lord to the Angel's message of great joy for all people.
The angel provides the sign—a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger—which points to the Savior's humility. This is followed by a burst of praise from the heavenly host. The shepherds immediately act on the news, find the baby, spread the word to others, and return to their work glorifying and praising God.
Key Concepts
Divine Revelation to the Humble: The first people to receive the good news of the Saviour's birth were shepherds, who held a low social status in ancient Israel. This highlights the universal and inclusive nature of the message.
The honor God gave to the Shepherds: God honored the caring shepherds by announcing the birth of His Son to them. They were good shepherds, staying with the sheep instead of abandoning them. We learn in scriptures about God as the Good Shepherd. Jesus also spoke of Himself being the Good Shepherd, and therefore a strong message about shepherding others is revealed to us.
The Message of Universal Joy: The central theme is "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." The angel's message was not limited by social class, nationality, or religious background.
The Sign of Humility: The manger (animal feeding trough) was the definitive sign the shepherds were given. This was a direct contrast to finding a king in a palace, emphasizing that this King came to be identified with the poor and simple people.
Contrasting Reactions: The text presents three distinct reactions: the shepherds' action and praise, the crowd's wonder, and Mary's internal pondering, showing different ways people processed the miracle.
Vocabulary List
Abiding in the field: Staying or dwelling outdoors, as part of their routine work guarding the flocks overnight.
Glory of the Lord: A term referring to the powerful, visible presence of God, often associated with a blinding, bright light.
Sore afraid: An old phrase meaning greatly or intensely afraid.
Saviour, which is Christ the Lord: The title given to the newborn baby, identifying Him as the promised Messiah and Lord.
Swaddling Clothes: Strips of cloth used to tightly wrap a newborn baby, a common practice in that time to keep the infant secure.
Manger: An open trough or box, found in barns or stable areas, used to hold food (hay or fodder) for livestock.
Multitude of the heavenly host: A very large assembly or army of angels.
Pondered them in her heart: Mary's thoughtful, reflective reaction of treasuring and deeply considering the meaning of the events.
Key Questions
How does the shepherds' job of 'keeping watch over their flock by night' connect to the symbolism of the story?
Why was it significant that the first announcement of the King's birth was made to shepherds and not to religious or political leaders?
What is the difference between the 'Glory of the Lord' and the 'multitude of the heavenly host,' and what was each event's purpose?
What does the instruction to look for the baby in a manger reveal about the nature of the Kingdom of God being announced?
Compare and contrast the immediate actions of the shepherds (telling everyone) versus Mary's private reaction (pondering in her heart).
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