The Night the Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth
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Introduction: The Night the Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth
The Night the Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth - Luke 2: 8 - 20
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
The Quiet Night on the Hill
I, Luke, have heard many stories, but few are as full of wonder as this one. Let us go back in our minds to the land of Judea, near the small town of Bethlehem—the very town of King David!
It was a cold night, darker than pitch. Not everyone was asleep. Why was that?
There were men, strong and kind, called shepherds. Their job was important—they were the guardians of the flock. All day and all night, these men stayed awake, keeping watch over their sheep. They knew that in the Judean hills , the dark night was when danger came. They protected their families' wealth and their neighbors' future—the lambs that grew up to be strong sheep for wool and food.
How did they keep watch? They would take turns, sharing stories and songs to keep their eyes wide open. Their simple supper was eaten, and now they leaned on their shepherd's staffs, watching the stars blaze above.
A Brilliant Light!
Suddenly, something happened!
The dark night was not dark anymore. It was like the sun had come out at midnight! The Glory of the Lord—a light so bright, so powerful, that it felt like God Himself was standing right there—shone all around them (Luke 2:9). The shepherds were terrified. They dropped their staffs and covered their eyes. They were sore afraid! What could this be?
Then, right in the middle of that great, shining light, stood a single, mighty Angel of the Lord. Did he look scary? Perhaps, but his words were gentle.
The Angel's Great News
The Angel saw their fear and spoke with a voice like a sweet song, but with great authority. "Fear not!" he commanded.
“Why should you not fear?” the Angel asked them. Because he had brought a gift, not a punishment! "I bring you good tidings of great joy," he declared. This was not just a little joy for one person; this was great joy for all people everywhere!
The angel explained how this great joy had arrived: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). The Saviour! The Rescuer, the King they had been waiting for, was here!
The Sign of the Manger
But how would simple shepherds know which baby was the King? Kings are usually born in palaces!
The Angel gave them a sign—a special instruction. "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger" (Luke 2:12).
Now, what is a manger? In their ancient custom, a manger was not a comfortable crib. It was the simple stone or wooden trough where the animals ate their hay. And swaddling clothes? Every Jewish mother used long strips of cloth, tightly wrapping her newborn to keep the baby warm and safe and help its little limbs grow straight. That this King would be found in such a humble place—a feeding trough, dressed in the same cloth as every other baby—showed us why He came: to be with the simple people.
The Heavens Burst into Song
Just as the Angel finished speaking, the sky exploded with music!
It was not just one angel anymore, but a great multitude of the heavenly host—an army of angels! They lifted their voices together, praising God with all their might, saying:
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14).
They sang about glory for God and peace for people! Oh, what a powerful, joyful sound it was!
Go and See!
As quickly as they came, the host of angels went back to heaven.
The shepherds didn't wait. They didn't wonder, "Should we go?" No! With one voice, they encouraged each other, using strong, active words: "Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us" (Luke 2:15).
They went with haste—they hurried! They left their flocks and ran the short distance into the town of David. And there, just as the Angel had promised, they found Mary, Joseph, and the tiny baby lying in the manger.
They had seen it with their own eyes! A true and wonderful thing had happened!
Returning and Pondering
When the shepherds had seen the Christ Child, they couldn't keep quiet. They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child (Luke 2:17). They told everyone they met what the Angel had announced! And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them.
But Mary, the mother, kept all these things. She did not forget them, but pondered them in her heart. She thought and prayed about them quietly.
And the shepherds? They returned to their lonely fields, but they were not the same. They went back glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told unto them (Luke 2:20).
The core message? God remembers the humble and the simple. He brought the greatest news to the shepherds first, proving that His great joy is truly for all people! If God chose them, will He not also choose you?
Assessment
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :The Night The Angels Sang To Shepherds About Jesus' Birth
Q: Why were the shepherds in the field at night?
A: Shepherds had to stay with their flocks 24 hours a day, especially during the lambing season, to protect the sheep from wild animals like wolves and thieves. This was a normal, necessary job in ancient Israel.
Q: What are "swaddling clothes?"
A: Swaddling clothes were long strips of cloth commonly used by mothers in ancient Jewish culture to wrap newborn babies tightly. This was believed to keep the baby warm, safe, and secure.
Q: Where is "the city of David?"
A: The city of David is another name for Bethlehem, the small town just south of Jerusalem. It was called this because the great King David was born there many centuries earlier.
Q: What time of year could the shepherds have been in the fields?
Call to Action
You have heard the story of the great joy the angels brought! Do you want to learn more about the simple shepherds and the good news they shared? Ask us what other messages the angels shared with the people of God!
References
Bailey, K. E. (2008). Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels. InterVarsity Press.
Jeremias, J. (2000). Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus: An Investigation into Economic and Social Conditions During the New Testament Period. Fortress Press.
Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. InterVarsity Press.
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