with them. It is also a fact that the Jews sent out their flocks into the mountainous and desert regions during the summer months, and took them up in the latter part of October or the first of November, when the cold weather commenced.
These shepherds were about to get what was likely the shock of their lives!
The Appearance of the Angels
Luke says in Luke 2:9 (ASV), "And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." Gill is of the opinion that "It may be Gabriel, who had brought the tidings of the conception of the Messiah to the virgin, and now the birth of him to the shepherds." Although we cannot be sure, I agree that this is a possibility. He is sometimes dispatched to bring important information to men. For example, He was sent to explain the vision of the last age that Daniel had seen in Daniel 8 (Daniel 8:16-26) and to relate the prophecy of the vision of the seven weeks (Dan. 9:21-27).
On "the glory of the Lord," that shone about the shepherds, Robert Hawker comments:
When we consider the humble appearance in which Christ was born, how blessed is it to see the glorious attestation, which was given at the same time, of the greatness of his person. Angels, (and it should seem a multitude, though one only came forward to the Jewish shepherds, to be the speaker,) came from heaven to proclaim the wonders of his birth, and the end of it in salvation.
Hawker continues:
I beg the Reader to remark the burden of their message: Glory to God; peace and good will to men. Yes! the whole glory is God's; because it is all founded in God; carried on in God; compleated in God; and man is but the receiver of the mercies. Oh! that this was well understood by men! What an end would it put to all the pharisaical righteousness, and pride of men!
It was normal for those who saw a heavenly being to be "sore afraid," as Luke writes. The angel encourages them to "be not afraid" (Luke 2:10), because he brought them "good tidings of great joy which shall be unto all people." The Greek word here is euaggelizo {yoo-ang-ghel-id'-zo}, the same word translated "preach the gospel twenty-two times in the New Testament. It is also translated, "good news(2), bring good news(1), brought...good news(1), good news(5), good news preached(2), gospel(2), gospel preached(2), preach(4), preach the gospel(11), preach...a gospel(1), preach...the good news(1), preached(11), preached the gospel(4), preaching(8), preaching the good news(1), preaching the gospel(4), preaching...a gospel(1)." (James Strong). What is the Good news the angel has to reveal?
A Savior Is Born
The glad tidings (good news) that the angel brought to the shepherds was, "...unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Jesus was born in Bethlehem, referred to as "the city of David because David was born there (1 Sam. 17:12; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia).
A Savior
The word translated, "saviour," here means "Saviour, deliverer, preserver" (Joseph Thayer. He came to save His people from their
Evening Worship: 5:00 *Suspended due to Covid-19* (Singing at Greenfield Senior Living, 14 Maynard Ln., (540) 298-6835, even-number months, 6:30 pm.) *Suspended due to Covid-19*
Wednesday: 6:00 *Suspended until time changes in Spring*
10:00 