Luke 2:13-14
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”
Thursday, December 18 – Week of Joy
Growing up, I imagined these two scriptures with white clad angels flying in the night sky. While this may have been the scene the shepherds witnessed, we must go back and familiarize ourselves with the Prophets' words.
When we read the words of the Prophets, we must remember that they spoke to people who fell away from following God and instead followed their own desires. Micah, a minor prophet, prophesied that out of Bethlehem a ruler would come forth, assuming the figurative role of a shepherd. In some ways, this inclusion of shepherds via the heavenly hymn marks the beginning of the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Micah 5:2-5 for all of the people who would walk in the ways of the Lord.
The Prophets attempted to turn the people of Israel back to God time and time again. They would repent, only to find themselves in similar situations generations later. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, we have been given the perfect example of the Shepherd who led and still leads the people who choose to walk in His footsteps.
Prayer: God of all ages, we confess that as humans we are prone to follow our own desires. Help us to follow the example of Christ each day we walk among your creation. Amen.
