Shepherds, Angels, Mary and Elizabeth

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Short Summary
The discourse reflects on the biblical role and symbolism of shepherds during Jesus’ birth, emphasizing their responsibility in caring for and protecting their flocks, especially during lambing season. It highlights the significance of the angelic announcement to the shepherds, the possibility that Jesus was born in proximity to these flocks, and the deep spiritual meaning connecting Jesus as the Lamb of God to Old Testament shepherding practices. Additionally, the talk considers Mary’s role and the historical context of the nativity, presenting a devotional appreciation for the humble yet pivotal figures surrounding this sacred event.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Shepherds, Angels, Mary, Elizabeth, and the Birth of Jesus

Context and Purpose of the Talk:
– The speaker’s discourse centers around shepherds, the angels who announced Jesus’ birth, and some reflections on Mary and Elizabeth.
– The Milwaukee Ecclesia has a longstanding Christmas program focusing on celebrating Jesus’ birth, aiming to involve children and emphasize God’s gift rather than the commercial aspects of Christmas.

Shepherds in Biblical and Historical Context:
– Shepherds often were young boys or children tasked with protecting and guiding sheep to good pastures and safe waters.
– The shepherd’s responsibility was crucial: ensuring sheep were well-fed, had access to slow-moving water, and were protected from wild animals.
– Shepherds typically carried:
– A rod: a sturdy stick with a knob (sometimes with nails), used to defend the flock.
– A staff: a long stick used as a walking aid and to maneuver sheep.
– A sling: a leather pouch used to hurl stones to scare off threats.
– Example from the Bible: David used a sling to protect his sheep and later to fight Goliath.
– Shepherding was a vital livelihood in the Middle East, providing food, wool, and skins.
– Shepherds often stayed with flocks day and night; the youngest son usually served as shepherd until older.
– David, a well-known shepherd, used shepherding imagery in the Psalms, notably Psalm 23.

Shepherds and the Announcement of Jesus’ Birth:
– On the night of Jesus’ birth, many shepherds were likely tending multiple flocks around Bethlehem.
– The Bible records (Luke 2:8-20) that angels appeared to shepherds watching their flocks at night, announcing Jesus’ birth:
– “And the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
– And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
– For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:9-11, KJV)
– A multitude of heavenly hosts praised God: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
– The shepherds visited Mary, Joseph, and Jesus lying in a manger, then shared the angelic message, which amazed those who heard it.
– The discourse notes no biblical record of disbelief toward the shepherds’ testimony.
– The shepherds’ experience was unique and likely life-changing; possibly, some later heard Jesus preach and may have followed Him.
– It is speculated these shepherds could have been watching lambs intended for temple sacrifice, linking Jesus as the “firstborn” and “Lamb of God” who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29).

Reflections on Mary and Elizabeth:
– Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months during Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist.
– It is possible Mary assisted in the birth of John, as was common for young women to help in childbirth.
– Mary might have had experience with childbirth care despite her youth.
– Travel in those times was difficult and unsafe; Mary might have been accompanied by family members.
– When Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem for the census, Mary was likely near labor.
– They found lodging in an animal barn or stable, likely on the outskirts of town near fields and flocks, emphasizing Jesus’ humble and approachable birth.

Shepherd Imagery and Jesus as the Good Shepherd:
– Psalm 23 is cited multiple times to emphasize God as the great shepherd:
– “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
– “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
– “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:1-4, KJV)
– Jesus’ “easy yoke” and “light burden” are mentioned, reflecting the shepherd’s guidance and protection.

Historical and Biblical Background on Shepherds:
– Shepherding is foundational in biblical history:
– Abel was a keeper of sheep (Genesis 4:2).
– Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were pastoralists (Genesis 13:5,7).
– Moses and David also served as shepherds.
– Shepherds had to skillfully navigate wilderness, protect flocks from wild beasts, and care for newborn lambs.

Why Were Shepherds in the Fields at Night?
– According to S. Kent Brown, the fact that adult shepherds were in the fields at night (Luke 2:8) suggests it was lambing season (springtime), a time when newborn lambs required constant care.
– The Greek phrase translated as “keeping watch over their flock by night” literally means “guarding watches of the night.”
– Normally, young boys watch sheep, but during lambing, adults stay overnight to ensure lambs are dried and warm.
– This detail supports a spring birth for Jesus, rather than winter—though this is debated.

Special Care of Lambs in Old Testament Times:
– Newborn lambs were swaddled to keep them unblemished, suitable for sacrifice.
– Lambs were born in clean, designated caves for purity.
– Levitical shepherds (from the priestly tribe of Levi) cared for sacrificial lambs with great attention.
– Jesus’ swaddling in a manger symbolically connects to this practice, highlighting Him as the “Lamb of God” who takes away the sins of the world.

Additional Resources:
– The speaker mentions a source for further reading: “Debunking Popular Christmas Time Temple Shepherds Migdal Eder and Swaddling Lambs” by Chad Bird (December 2021).

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Key Bible Verses Cited or Referenced:

Luke 2:8-20 — Angelic announcement to shepherds of Jesus’ birth.
Luke 3:9 — Reference to shepherds and people awaiting the Messiah.
John 1:29 — John the Baptist calling Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
Psalm 23:1-4 — The Lord as the Good Shepherd.
Genesis 4:2 — Abel as keeper of sheep.
Genesis 13:5,7 — Patriarchs as pastoralists.
1 Samuel 16:11 and 17:15 — David as a young shepherd.

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This discourse weaves together biblical history, cultural context, and theological symbolism regarding shepherds, angels, Mary, Elizabeth, and the significance of Jesus’ birth, emphasizing the humility, care, and divine purpose surrounding this foundational event in Christian faith.

Transcript

My talk is I have about shepherds. It’s about the angels who announce Jesus birth. It’s about a little bit about Mary and a little bit about Elizabeth. So it’s kind of a combination things in the Milwaukee Ecclesia Every Christmas season for years we’ve had a program to honor and celebrate Jesus birth on earth. The intent mainly being to involve the children of the class.

We feel this is a worthy program putting a focus on God’s gift to all humanity rather than the commercial side we witness in the world. Several things occurred to me this year that still now as never before. Below we quote from a Bible study source during the time of the Old Testament was often but not always a child whatever his age. The shepherd’s job was to protect his flock and guide them to good pastures and plenty of food and slow moving, easily accessible water. If fed grass of poor quality, the sheep would be m malnourished if the water moved, but simply the sheep would be too afraid to drink from it.

Guiding the flock of sheep to a good location was an extremely important task for a shepherd because good pastures kept his flock good shepherd because good pastors kept his flock healthy. A shepherd typically carried a few items with him to aid him in his task of caring for the sheep. First, he would have a rod. The rod was a sturdy sick with a knob at one end. Sometimes the knob even had nails in it to make it a better weapon.

I don’t even know they had names in these days. The shepherd used his rod to protect his sheep from wild animals or other threats. The sheep also carried a long staff. The staff was used as a walking stick for the shepherd, who also used it to maneuver sheep when needed. For further protection, shepherds often carried a sling comprised of a leather pouch on a string.

Placing a stone in a pouch, the skull shepherd could fling rocky projectiles over a good distance in order to scare off the wound. Wild Animals we see that with David during biblical times, families in the Middle east relied upon sheep to provide food, wool and sheepskin. Because sheep were so viable, shepherds would stay with the flock to protect them day and night. They frequently the youngest boy in the family served as a shepherd until he grew older and could do harder manual labor. David was a shepherd for his family and he often used references to shepherding in the book of Psalms.

One of the most well known Psalms of verse is Psalms 23 where it describes the Lord as the great shepherd.

So then thoughts on the shepherds, and some of these are kind of in they don’t always agree but you know, depending how you look things up, they’re not always the same. There were likely many shepherds out that night. The holy angels proclaimed Jesus birth. We’re thinking there were numerous flocks of Satan.

Just don’t cover up my tabs. It’s okay. That’s too close. I can’t see my tips now. Here goes.

That’s good. Okay, okay.

There were moving stocks of sheep that perhaps boots as well. Reply intending unless a group of people were frozen to watch over the flips. What an incredible model and yes even responsibility to have this most holy event announced. We don’t know how these shepherds were chosen to hear the message from the angels, we’re unreasonable education or their frequency in attending a synagogue. However, we do know from the Bible’s record that the shepherds were fearful Maze would later witness Jesus birth as stated in Luke 2 when the angel announced to the shepherds both of Jesus beginning in Luke 3 in verse 9 that we’re all intimately familiar starting with verse 9.

And the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sorrowful, and the angel said unto them fell out for me when they bring you good tidings of rich men which shall be to all people for and she was born this day in the city of David a savior which is Christ the Lord, and this shall be a sign unto you. You can find the baby rock and swindle and clothes lined in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multidy come on with the heavenly and was praising God and saying glory to thee in the highest and that make peace good toward men, and it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heathen the serpent said one to another, let us now go even unto my think again and see this thing which has come to pass which the Lord has made known unto us, and they came with this and found Mary and Joseph in a babe lying in major and when they had seen it they made known by the saying which was told them concerning his child, and all they that heard it wondered that those things were foretold down by the shepherds. We notice in this very familiar record it isn’t stated that any people disbelieved the shepherd’s account.

How hungry they must have been for their Messiah’s appearance.

We think it likely further that this might have been the only time angels witnessed to these shepherds there in tunnels. What a glorious thing to perhaps share with others later in life. While we don’t Wish to make an unsupported supposition. We wonder that if these shepherds were fairly young, that later when Jesus preached, they perhaps listened to him talk grievance. Some may have even followed him, though the mal could suggest that, for example, if a shepherd was 16 years old at the time of Jesus birth, he would be about 46 when Jesus began preaching.

In Luke 3:15, we read, and as the people were in expectation of the coming as a Messiah, his Savior, their bondage, certainly these shepherds were also in expectation. There’s some thought that these particular shepherds may have been watching over firstborn sheep without blemish for temple sacrifices. This is a very apt picture. As Jesus represents God’s firstborn, he would take away the sins of the world. Try and imagine yourselves being one of these shepherds.

You’ve likely never had a direct visit from any angel, and you’ll probably never have one again. We like to consider that the heavenly presence of these angels was such a shining event, it would have been nearly impossible to keep one’s eyes open, and perhaps the shepherds even fell to the ground, although we don’t have a record of that. Imagine them sharing this most holy of events with friends and family later. Just imagine.

We think it’s quite possible that when I’m switching kind of to Mary here now, that when Mary stayed with her cousin Elizabeth for three months, Mary may have aided in the birth of John, although records seem to indicate that she left right prior to John’s birth. While there could have been a midwife attending. We like the thought that Mary assisted John, being the one who would, a little more than 30 years later, announce that Jesus would be the one who would take away the sins of the world. John 1:29. Behold the Lamb of God.

We also believe it quite possible that Mary had previously assisted in other children being born. Just because we might think that Mary was too young to have helped. Youth in those days likely had more responsibilities than they do now. We’re unaware of any siblings Mary may have had, but think it likely if a few men, perhaps brothers, accompanied her when she went up to see Elizabeth. We know historically that travel wasn’t a very safe option in those days.

I don’t. I didn’t bring my phone up with me. What time is it? 10 minutes. Okay.

Talking too fast. Thanks, bro. When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem, switching back to the time when Jesus was born for the census, it was possible that Mary was close to being in labor, so searching for housing was expedient. They find some safe lodging Soon. Perhaps they’d already stopped at relatives dwellings to see if they had room.

The Bible record doesn’t afford us that glance. Surely many other families had also come into Bethlehem ahead of this family of Joseph, soon to be three people also for the census. Perhaps their travel was slower because of Mary’s condition. Thus there being no regular lodging available. Because of their search ending up with lodging in an animal barn or shed, it could be suggested that they now were on the edge of the town and closer to the fields, pasturing the flocks.

This possibility is precious, making the shepherds closer to the holy event and perhaps picturing how Jesus was always a savior for the people, the common people, and approachable. The Lord is always the Lord is our awesome shepherd and we shall not have want for anything in him. 284 the Easy Yoke the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. He maketh me down to lie in pastures green. He leadeth me the quiet waters by my soul cryeth out, restore me again, and give me the strength to take the narrow path of righteousness in for his own name’s sake.

Yea, though I should walk in the valley of death, yet why should I fear? Then fear ill, for thou art with me and thy rod and thy staff may comfort still, and of course his yoke is easy, his burden is light. I found it so. I found it so.

He leadeth me by day and by night where living waters flow. This may be too fast for a translator back there. We were just talking about it some more thoughts and if. If it. It ends up being too long, Brother Todd, just tell me and I’ll.

I’ll stop Shepherding occupies a pivotal place in earliest stories of the Bible. Abel, the second son of Adam and Eve, is described as a keeper of the flocks in Genesis 4. 2. The patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were primarily pastoralists who roamed with their flocks. Genesis 13, 5, 7.

Their livelihood required skillful navigation of wilderness terrain and the capacity to protect the animals from wild beasts. Also Moses, David and others. In Psalm 23, verse 1 the Lord is my shepherd, and we’ve. We’ve already sort of read that by reading the hymn.

And then a quote which I thought was quite interesting. Why were the shepherds in the field at night when the angels came? By S. Kent Brown at first glance, the scene pictured in Luke 2. 8 seems unusual. Shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Why? Because usually an older child or young teenager in the family stays with a sheep through the night. Rather than adult. See 1st Samuel 16:11 and 17:15, where the Hebrew texts read that young David watched over his father’s sheep. Even today, children of Middle Eastern shepherds mind the sheep through the night, whereas the adults spent nights out of door only during the birthing period or during a crisis.

Luke’s description features adult shepherds who are with the sheep. Therefore, the nighttime scene points to the lambing season, the springtime. In fact, the Greek expression that is translated keeping watch over their flock by night reads literally guarding watches of the night over their flock. Because ancient Jewish people divided the nighttime hours into three watches, the language implies the shepherds are with their flock all night. Youths are basically helpful, helpless when giving birth, so the shepherds stay with them to see that the newborn lambs are dried off and kept warm during that first cold night.

One of the important benefits of Luke’s notation is that it suggests the general time of Jesus birth the spring of the year, and all of this, you know, is is debatable depending on who who has done the research.

Special Care of the Shepherds of Baby Lambs in Old Testament Times Brother Todd the care of baby lambs by the shepherds in Old Testament times was a meticulous process that involved several key practices. Swaddling Newborn lambs were wrapped in swaddling clothes to keep them unblemished and safe from harm. This practice was not only a sign of care, but also a requirement for the lambs to be suitable for sacrifice. Special Birthplace the lambs were taken to a designated cave for birth, which was kept clean and sterile for sacrificial purposes. This location was chosen to ensure the lambs were free from blemishes.

Levitical Shepherds the shepherds were part of the priestly tribe of Levi, responsible for the care of sacrificial lambs. They had specific duties and were trained to handle lambs with care and attention. The significance the swaddling of Jesus in the manger was a sign of his birth, symbolizing the Lamb of God who would take over the sins of the world. These practices highlight the importance of the shepherds in the care of lambs and their significance in the biblical narrative. The care of these lambs was not just a matter of survival, but also a reflection of the divine plan for the birth of the Messiah.

And then there’s a thing that you can look up if you want it, you can get it for me later. It’s called debunking. Popular Christmas time Temple shepherds Migdal eater and swaddling lambs and it was written in December of 21 by Chad Bird, called the Temple Shepherds.

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