While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

 

“That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep.  Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord.  They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
‘Don’t be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone.’”  Luke 2:8 – 10 [The Living Bible]

At times I wonder why God chose shepherds and why these specific shepherds to proclaim the most wonderful news on earth- the birth of Christ. We can’t know God’s mind which is way above what we could ever think but I believe as we get to know Him in the Bible we began to understand His ways. 

I wonder if He chose these shepherds because they were close by; they were available.  And I wonder about the status of their hearts; were they waiting for the Messiah? Were they more open to the angel’s news than others?

God comes to us when we make ourselves available to Him; when we make time to meet with Him in worship, reading His Word and praying.  God manifests Himself to us often in the quietness, in that still small voice, in the middle of the quiet night.  Like the shepherds in the quiet night, outside the village away from the bustle of activities, we took can hear His special message to us this Christmas season: “Don’t be afraid!  I bring you the most joyful news.” 
While shepherd watched their flocks by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around.

‘Fear not’ said he (for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind);
‘Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind.’

‘To you in David’s town this day
Is born of David’s line
A saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swathing bands,
And in a manger laid.’

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song:

‘All glory be to God on high
And to the earth be peace;
Good will henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease.’

This well loved timeless carol is attributed to Nahum Tate (1652-1715). He wrote the lyrics based on the inspiring account of the angels visiting the shepherds in Luke chapter 2: “and there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field”. 

Tate was born in 1652 in Dublin, Ireland and was the son of a clergyman.  He wrote many plays and became England’s poet-laureate.  He also wrote the royally-sanctioned “New Version of the Psalms of David”, the Authorized Version used by the Church of England in its prayer book. This carol was first published as a hymn in the supplement of his Psalm collection in 1703. Until 1782 it was the only Christmas carol sanctioned by the Church of England probably because it replicated the Bible’s description of the shepherd’s experiences on that first Christmas night.

 Tate won infamy later in his life for trying to improve the endings to Shakespeare’s tragedies.  I can relate well to him here.  I hate sad endings.  Life has enough hardships and bad things.  I think all stories we create should have a happy ending.

A tune for the carol was written by Handel.  However, the tune now used is borrowed from “The Winchester Old” by Christopher Tye (1500-1572).  He was Master of the Choristers at Ely Cathedral.