Today's Verse: Luke 2:13-14 (ESV)
13 And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”3
h Gen. 28:12; 32:1, 2; 1 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 103:21; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11
i ch. 19:38; [Ps. 148:1; Matt. 21:9]
j [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
j [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
k ch. 1:79; Ps. 85:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Hag. 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20
l [ch. 3:22; 12:32; Eph. 1:5, 9; Phil. 2:13]
3 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
One of the parts of the Christmas story is the witness of the shepherds. The Teacher's Commentary asks an interesting question: "Why the Shepherds?" The answer: here is the Lamb of God lying in a manger. Here are the shepherds, who protect their flocks through dark and stormy nights in the fields. Here are shepherds that are given a momentary glimpse at the shepherd's heart of God, who gives His one Lamb for all.
Today's Comments: The Commentary above is most interesting and is, of course, conjecture. We know that shepherds watched the flocks of sheep, many of which were destined for sacrifice of the temple.
We also know that shepherds were important in the commerce of Israel. Shepherds were under the Rabbinic ban, because of their isolated lifestyle which prevented them from rendering strict legal observances. Yet, without them, proper temple sacrifices would be impossible.
Shepherds were also a trusted group. How could one not be able to trust someone who was willing to give up his life for the animals that he tended. My blog entry of May 2, 2009 talks about shepherds. As a class, they were widely respected, and many people tended sheep either part or full time, so there was a certain amount of identification with this group. Consequently, who else might God better choose to spread the good news of the birth of His Son?
And so, as we look forward to the birth of the baby Jesus, we must even look further ahead to the death of the shepherd who gave all for us, His flock.
Hymn of the Day:
What more fitting carol to proclaim the announcement of our savior's birth:
Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains, in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song?
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.
See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heav’n and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
with us sing our Savior’s birth.
Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 373
13 And suddenly there was with the angel ha multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 i“Glory to God jin the highest,
jand on earth kpeace lamong those with whom he is pleased!”3
h Gen. 28:12; 32:1, 2; 1 Kgs. 22:19; 2 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 103:21; 148:2; Dan. 7:10; Rev. 5:11
i ch. 19:38; [Ps. 148:1; Matt. 21:9]
j [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
j [ch. 10:21; Matt. 6:10; 28:18; John 17:4; Acts 7:49; Eph. 3:15; Col. 1:16, 20; Rev. 5:13]
k ch. 1:79; Ps. 85:10; Isa. 9:6, 7; Hag. 2:9; Acts 10:36; Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:14, 17; Col. 1:20
l [ch. 3:22; 12:32; Eph. 1:5, 9; Phil. 2:13]
3 Some manuscripts peace, good will among men
One of the parts of the Christmas story is the witness of the shepherds. The Teacher's Commentary asks an interesting question: "Why the Shepherds?" The answer: here is the Lamb of God lying in a manger. Here are the shepherds, who protect their flocks through dark and stormy nights in the fields. Here are shepherds that are given a momentary glimpse at the shepherd's heart of God, who gives His one Lamb for all.
Today's Comments: The Commentary above is most interesting and is, of course, conjecture. We know that shepherds watched the flocks of sheep, many of which were destined for sacrifice of the temple.
We also know that shepherds were important in the commerce of Israel. Shepherds were under the Rabbinic ban, because of their isolated lifestyle which prevented them from rendering strict legal observances. Yet, without them, proper temple sacrifices would be impossible.
Shepherds were also a trusted group. How could one not be able to trust someone who was willing to give up his life for the animals that he tended. My blog entry of May 2, 2009 talks about shepherds. As a class, they were widely respected, and many people tended sheep either part or full time, so there was a certain amount of identification with this group. Consequently, who else might God better choose to spread the good news of the birth of His Son?
And so, as we look forward to the birth of the baby Jesus, we must even look further ahead to the death of the shepherd who gave all for us, His flock.
Hymn of the Day:
What more fitting carol to proclaim the announcement of our savior's birth:
Angels we have heard on high,
sweetly singing o’er the plains,
and the mountains, in reply,
echoing their joyous strains.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
which inspire your heav’nly song?
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.
See Him in a manger laid,
Jesus, Lord of heav’n and earth;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
with us sing our Savior’s birth.
Refrain: Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Osbeck, Kenneth W.: Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions. Grand Rapids, Mich. : Kregel Publications, 1990, S. 373
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