The Shepherds In The Field

For centuries, since at least the time of King David, Bethlehem had been a center for shepherds. The hilly terrain was ideal for shepherds to keep their flocks fed and safe, especially in the winter. And the proximity to Jerusalem made Bethlehem an ideal place to raise the sheep for Temple sacrifices. They were close enough to the Holy City to be convenient but far enough removed to avoid the mess and smell that accompanied raising animals. The shepherds themselves didn’t escape the reproach and were often looked down on by much of society.

In many ways, the fact that shepherds were the first to receive the news of the birth of the King of the Jews seems strange. Yet viewed from God’s perspective it makes perfect sense. Shepherds were not the kind of people with whom kings usually associated, but Jesus was not a typical king. The ancient prophet declared that the Messiah would come, not in glory and pomp, but in humility. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). 

Beyond that, Jesus Himself used the metaphor of a shepherd repeatedly to describe His life and ministry. He said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Just like the lambs raised by the shepherds for sacrifices in the Temple, Jesus would one day lay down His life to purchase our salvation.

Today’s Discipleship Principle: If you feel insignificant or unimportant, remember that the first group God chose to announce the birth of His Son was the outcast of society.