Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus tells us that, “There were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night.”… when suddenly a great company of heavenly host filled the night sky in brilliant light, announcing the birth of the Christ child, the Messiah. But why them? The Jews were sure that the Messiah would come as a great Political Leader & Warrior…destroying the Roman Empire in one fell swoop, along with His amassed army of mighty & valiant troops. But from the very beginning, God had portrayed Himself as a Shepherd of His people. When Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:11, He was fulfilling the prophecy first spoken from Ezekiel in Chapter 34:7-16,23. We even see this in the first verse of the well known Psalm 23 of David, “The Lord is my Shepherd…” So it’s beyond reason that the Messiah’s birth would first be announced to those closest to God’s heart of a Shepherd…those who cared for, looked out for, provided & protected the flock…even to the point of laying down their own lives for them.
Safetypinlove 