Imagine a shepherd in a field, looking forward to a quiet peaceful night with the sheep. The sheep finally settle down and the shepherd yawns, stretching his arms and legs. He carries on a low conversation with the other shepherds resting for the night. Suddenly an angel appears. At first he thinks it’s a dream but with the realization that this extremely shiny being is real, he drops to the ground, trembling with fear.
Even though the shepherd is told not to be afraid, he still trembles as the angel delivers the message. It’s a simple message: the Messiah is born in Bethlehem and can be found in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes.
And then, a multitude of heavenly hosts join the lone angel. We usually think the host as all angels, but the host includes the seraphim who each have 6 wigs (Isaiah 6:2), the living creatures who have 4 faces and 4 wings, and sparkly like burnished brass (Ezekiel 1:4-14), and beasts with 6 wings and full of eyes (Revelation 4:8), and the cherubim (Ezekiel 10:5). Wow, if they weren’t afraid before, they would be when they saw the heavenly host.
The heavenly host proclaimed the greatness of God, speaking of His glory, glory beyond our comprehension. They spoke of peace to the earth, available through Jesus Christ who opened the way to reconciliation with God. They spoke of God’s desire to do good to men.
God chose to send this message to a group of humble men, just doing their job. It lets me know that I don’t have to be doing anything special to hear from God. No hoops to jump through, just faithfully doing what I have been called to do, and when I least expect it, overwhelmed by the goodness of an awesome God.
And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.
And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, “Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill towards men.” Luke 2:8-14
TRICIA LATHROP 