Luke 2:8-19 Why the shepherds?

Luke 2:8-19 Why the shepherds?

We can with just a little imagination put ourselves out on the hillside watching the stars, listening to the murmur of the sleeping flock in the dark. No campfire because you need your night vision to keep watch for predators. Then suddenly one angel appears and announces the birth of the savior, the Messiah. Then just as suddenly a host of angels to sing “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is well pleased.” And then they are gone. Your eyes still blinded to night slowly adjust to the darkness, and then your mind starts to think.

“Did you see that?” “What about you?” Then they decide to go off and find Jesus.

I wonder why Shepherds? I have often focused on the ordinariness of the shepherds, people like you and I. Not people of great power, influence, or affluence.  But the shepherd has been used throughout Israel’s history to talk about spiritual leadership.

1.      A shepherd
a. Psalm 23
b. King David
c. Zechariah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Micah, the spiritual leadership

2.      The worthless shepherds
a. Zechariah 11:15-17
b. Matthew 9:36
c. Ezekiel 34:1-10

3.      The Good Shepherd
a. Isaiah 40:9-11 proclaim the good news from the hills
b. Micah 5:4
c. Ezekiel 34:11-24
d. John 10:7-16

 

Jesus is the Good shepherd, He searches for the lost, carries the weak, Heals the broken, He lays down His life for His sheep. This is why the angels come to proclaim the news to Shepherds and not to kings. And it is why with faith we can say. (Read Psalm 23)