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Shepherds..keeping Watch Over Their Flock By Night...
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Introduction
For those of you who have worked in schools- as teachers or learning support staff, you will be familiar with doing head-counts whenever you go on walks or outings- double-checking that you have all your allotted number. It is a bit like shepherding- counting them out and counting them back in.
Similarly when I am in Church I find myself looking around to see who may be missing, whether it is just one odd week, or several weeks, and looking around the periphery particularly at newcomers; or trying to discern whether members are having any particular difficulties- family issues, health, bereavement, unemployment- it is all part of caring for the flock of God's Church.
A few years ago my cousin was researching our family tree, and among the many discoveries he made, was the fact that some of my ancestors had been shepherds in South Wiltshire- the south of Salisbury Plain around 1860/ 1870.. . Strangely 120 years later I had lived within a couple of miles of these villages without knowing a connection.
One of the things that is clear from various censuses is that shepherding was often a family affair- boys, fathers, uncles and grandfathers could be involved. It was a tough life, only getting into town for market day, and their whole livelihood – food and clothing-depended on their good care of the sheep.
One of my ancestors was contemporary with the shepherd whose life features in the book “A Shepherd's life”- in fact their daughters were on the same page of the baptismal register. The writer draws attention to the keen eyes of the shepherd an essential quality in caring for the sheep.
Sitting with eleven members of my family at a picnic spot on Martin Down, I could only wonder what the life of a shepherd may have involved. What would it have been like at night, watching the stars, familiar with the constellations?- long before the MOD acquired it for military training. Could there be a shepherding gene in my DNA?
Biblical Shepherds
Israel
From the time of the Patriarchs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and including Job, a nomadic, pastoral community with their flocks and herds.
Sometimes the young women would shepherd the sheep nearer home; Further from home, it was the men- like Joseph's brothers and David with his beautiful Psalm beginning: “The Lord is my shepherd” In the Old Testament God is described as a Shepherd of the nation of Israel, and there was stern justice for those who didn't shepherd their people with justice.
In the New Testament, Jesus describes himself as “The Good Shepherd”.. who knows his sheep by name, and willingly lays down his life for them- such was his perception of the value of shepherding.
The first leaders of the early Church- Peter, Paul, Jude and the writer to the Hebrews spoke of Christian leadership in terms of shepherding the flock.
In Revelation the glorified Christ is spoken of in terms of being both “the Lamb that was slain” and the Shepherd.
Jesus Birth
It is always interesting to see which Gospel writers include which narratives:
It is Matthew the Jew that records the visit of the Gentile Wise men/ Maji; Luke the Gentile records the visit of the Jewish Shepherds
God spoke while they are going about their normal business as Shepherds
Probably part of family groups, with several generations; Out in the fields , keeping watch over their sheep at night
We don't know whether these shepherds watched in shifts, some resting while others watched; or whether they were all watching at night and catching up on rest during the day.
The night would be the most dangerous time for the sheep,
When wild animals like wolves would seek out the weak and vulnerable, just as foxes pick off the sickly and isolated lambs today. Just last Sunday I watched a bird of prey on a fence post beside a field of sheep.. watching for a weakness.. an opportunity for a meal.
In addition was the real threat of thieves coming to steal the sheep away.
That's why Jesus pointed out that the owner of the sheep was more reliable than the hired-hand who might run off at the first sign of danger- not so the owner-shepherd. The livelihood of their families and employers depended on their good care of the sheep.
These shepherds were wide awake.. keeping watch.. so that later they couldn't be accused of having been half-awake or of having dreamt the night's events: These were men used to staying awake for the safety of their flock and livelihood depended on it.
Matthew Henry says “We are not out of the way of divine visits when we are sensibly employed in an honest calling”
.. just as he called Moses.. and David..whilst shepherding..
.. just as he called fishermen to follow him as Disciples..
or a Tax Collector sitting at his booth..
So God can speak to us whilst we are about our normal daily occupation
God spoke in a language they could understand- the sight and sounds of Angels..
To the Wise men he spoke in their language.. that of stars.
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To the shepherds God speaks through Angels- an Angel messenger, then a whole company of Angels
And God does the same for us, speaking to us in the language we can best understand:
as well as the Bible, there may be hymns and music, art and poetry, sculpture, creation, dream/ vision/ picture..God knows us so well as individuals.. and if we are prepared to be alert, listening- ready for Him to communicate, then He will chose the most appropriate way for us to hear His word.
I tend to be fairly visual, so it will often be through something I see- Creation, sculpture, photography, art
The Shepherds had heightened senses of sight and hearing-
Some years ago my brother-in-law was involved in car-rallying, and from time to time my sister, a friend and myself would find ourselves in the middle of nowhere manning a check-point for up to 100 cars. We could be in the middle of Dartmoor, it might be eleven o'clock at night or 3 am in the morning. Some nights we did two check-points, travelling across country to wait for the cars again.
Having got used to the dark we would wait, first for the Clerk of the course to go through, who checked that all the Marshalls were in the right place, then we would wait for the lights in the distance and the sound of the engines and their gear changes as they approached from miles away. Our senses were fully alert.to sight and sound.
The Shepherds knew the familiar sounds: of sheep tearing at the grass, they could distinguish the different bleats of the young lambs and the older sheep; knowing whether they were content or in distress, immediately sensing when they felt threatened. Acutely aware of any subtle changes from normality
Isn't it good to know that our Good Shepherd Jesus does the same for us?
God caused the normally excluded to be specifically included
Despite Israel's history of shepherding, and God describing himself as a shepherd, at the time of Jesus' birth, Shepherds were despised/ outcasts on the margins of society .
They were suspected of dishonesty, and the Pharisees ensured that civic privileges were withdrawn from them- so they were not able to act as witnesses in a court.
Perhaps like the Shepherds we have felt excluded from society for some reason.. on the margins..excluded because of health...gender.. education.. disability.. race.. wealth (lack of it)
Having worked with both children and adults with learning difficulties, I know the difficulties they and their families have of feeling on the margins of mainstream society.
There are many other groups- the unemployed, the homeless, the mentally ill, the single parents, the elderly ..
Particularly in these times of Government cut-backs we need more and more to be aware of the marginalised in our society.
Yet I guess it is possible for all of us to feel on the fringe.. at the margins.. not really belonging...in some sense..
Mary in her “Magnificat” praises God who lifts up the humble and brings down the proud
..the Angel brought news of great joy for all people..
but the shepherds were included : A Saviour has been born: “To YOU..”..
To you in the town of David.. Bethlehem.. you who normally remain outside the town..
We know that Christ was born to be the Saviour of all people.. but do we truly believe that he was born as Saviour for us personally.. “To YOU is born this day...a Saviour which is Christ the Lord..
It was these Shepherds, excluded from giving evidence in court, that took the message they had received to all who would listen, until finally returning to their sheep, glorifying and praising God for everything had been just as they had been told:
Like Jesus' resurrection appearance : Mary Magdalene (probably excluded as a reliable witness in her society) is given the task of telling Peter and the other disciples
Conclusion
The Shepherds received the Good News whilst conscientiously carrying out their normal work
Let us be alert to God speaking in the normal course of our week- whether in paid employment, caring for families, occupied in retirement- whatever our circmstances...
They received God's message in the language they could understand- from the Angels- appearing in the night sky- ready to receive it with their eyes and ears.
Let's be alert to God speaking to us in a way in which he knows we will understand..
The normally excluded became the specifically included: Let's be sure that however we may feel about our place in society, that God has called us to hear the Good news of His Son's birth.. that the Good News is for us specifically, as well as “all people”..
and become witnesses of that Good News wherever we can.
Prayers
Opening Prayer
Jesus, new-born child of all time,
We greet your birth with wide-eyed delight.
You are precious beyond words
for our world needs your presence more than ever.
Let the angels promise of your good news,
offering joy and peace to the world,
be heard by those who lead and guide.
Let kings and leaders of governments bow down
and all creation greet this holy moment
as we seek to grasp its magnitude.
For you are God's gift
silently delivered to every human heart.
Intercessory Prayer
Heavenly Father,
please comfort those who won't be happy this Christmas:
those who won't get any presents
or even any Christmas cards:
those who won't have the money to buy the Christmas presents
they would love to buy their friends;
those who won't have a Christmas dinner,
or won't get the things they are longing for;
and those who will be sad
because someone they love will not be with them.
Final prayer
Loving Father, help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the wisdom of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and open wide the door of love
all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift
and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing that Christmas brings
and teach us to be merry with clean hearts,
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be your children
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus' sake. Amen (Robert Louis Stevenson 1850- 1894)
Article submitted Saturday, December 18, 2010 & read 233 times.
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