WHY SHEPHERDS? WHY US?
By Wade Martin Hughes, sr Kyfingers@aol.com
The 23 Psalm and John: 1-18 and
Luke 2: 8--20
Psalms 23
John 10: 4-5
I ponder today an amazing thought, Why did God announce the birth of the King to shepherds? I know we serve a wise and all knowing God, but there must be a reason God choose shepherds.
My text will be The 23 Psalm and John: 1-18 and Luke 2, for time sake I will not write these out, you can read before looking at this.
First, may I establish Jesus is our good shepherd. He will rise above a hireling to give His life for the flock. The first shepherd in the Bible was a man named Abel.
Sheep are one of the most mentioned animals in the Bible, sheep/lamb is mentioned over 750xs. By nature sheep are helpless creatures that are totally dependent on the good shepherd for food source, water-finding, and to give protection and fight off all enemies.
Sheep are social animals, and after a bonding period become a model of complete trust and following. The word sheep is both singular and plural.
Those given to take care of sheep are called shepherds. There are basically two kinds of shepherds in the Bible,
1) hireling--selfish, lazy, and little love of sheep. Then those that we shall call 2) good shepherds--always vigilant, searching for good pasture, and prepared for whatever comes. The biggest differences between a hireling and a good shepherd are what they do when under attack----the hireling runs for safety, the good shepherd has prepared and stands between the danger and the flock, and if necessary will lay down his life for the sheep. For the sheep are a source of provision for his family and the community, clothing and food.
In the Bible the office of shepherd is often PREPARATIONAL. THE SHEPHERD MUST SEE REASON /PURPOSE /PLAN for his seemly lowly job. A good shepherd must see beyond today and think ahead. There will come terrible storms, droughts, and enemies -- the good shepherd has a strategy or strategies to maximize the good and minimize the bad.
The famous picture of Jesus with the little lamb on His shoulder illustrates a good point.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Is there a difference between rod and staff? Yes, just like a fiddle and a violin, they are the same, tuned the same, the difference is in how you play it. "Boil the cabbage down".............. is the fiddle, Mozart is the violin. The staff is for leadership and comfort, the rod is for correction and discipline. Now, we must know that not all discipline is punishment, yet punishment is part of discipline. Real discipline is training that corrects or molds.
Back to Jesus and the little lamb on His shoulder, the artist was depicting a message. A little lamb kept wandering away from the flock, and developed a habit of wandering, the good shepherd would go after the lamb. Well, the good shepherd knew the wandering lamb was endangering self and others for isolation will endanger all. After the lamb has established a wandering attitude, the staff that has drawn the lamb, will become the rod and gently the shepherd will hit the little lamb’s front leg and gently break the leg. Now, the little lamb can’t run away. Until the little lamb’s leg is healed the good shepherd will carry the wandering-proned lamb on his shoulder from one green pasture to another, and the little lamb will learn to recognize the shepherd’s voice...(John 10:4-5)
Now, was the shepherd’s rod mean to hurt temporarily the little lamb?? The lamb must: learn that no other voice matters, and will flee from others’ voices. The only one that sees this as mean will be the little lamb at first and the big, bad, wolf all the time. Heb.12:11 Now, no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Any good father / shepherd will teach/discipline the lambs, this is part of growth.
Now, back to the office of a shepherd as a preparational profession. Moses was a student in the best schools pharaoh and Egypt could offer. Not only this, but Moses had learned in the same rocking chair that Aaron and Miriam learned. If only momma’s would be teachers for the Most High. But, student Moses had some more lessons, before God could use him as a leader. So because of an APB on Moses head, he packs his bags and heads for a new dormitory. Moses finds a real education in the Higher School of Suffering at the Back Side of the Desert. Why would God send Moses, his developing shepherd/leader into hot barren land not capable of supporting a big population? I thought God had big plans for this shepherd?
In the desert, Moses learned to take up for the underdogs as he saw men mistreating others, he learned real love and found Zipporah to marry, (many years later others will talk about her), Moses is going to learn how to count sheep and look ahead and make plans. He will also learn to shovel sheep stuff and how to keep peace in the flock. Nature will teach him about storms, dry times, etc. But the real lesson was not looking for a better lifestyle, ----but PATIENCE ----REAL LIFE PATIENCE--- to bear trials and pain calmly without complaint. Some of us in the desert should focus, those of you headed to the desert, we will see you after the lesson is learned. Quit bellyaching and go. This lesson also came with true humility. The palace taught assertiveness, love takes and gives sometimes. After 40 years, the plan starts coming together at the burning bush.....THE SHEPHERD COULD SEE THE BURNING BUSH....preparation by shepherd-hood.
David comes in from the field to meet Samuel. Every one saw a shepherd boy: daddy, brothers, but the preacher and the Holy Spirit saw a "KING."
Did David take over the kingdom after the anointing?? No, he returned to the shepherd’s field. Most all Bible scholars agree the 23rd Psalms is the work of David’s pen as an old man writing fond memories of real life lessons. We often hate our time in the desert, you will not enjoy the destination without learning to enjoy the trip. Why not see our God is preparing?? Moses was 80 years old at the burning bush?? How old must we be to see every common bush aflame with the glory of God?? and we stand on HOLY GROUND every day.
One more pertinent point, when in real danger the good shepherd teaches the flock to stand closer and closer to each other. A wolf will never attack while sheep are together. As a banana gets skinned when broken off the bunch, so the danger when sheep stand alone and wandered from the shepherd’s eye. Jesus identified with the shepherd,,, the devotion, the faithfulness, the watching over the weaknesses, and the tenderness of real love. Jesus also taught us:.... real shepherds have little in common with cowboys. Cowboys wear spurs---they kick---they drive-----the good shepherd quietly leads, even those that lag behind, and that one that wandered astray to the mountains, he that really cares provides for the 99, but carries a real concern for that lost one.
We are pondering why God chose shepherds to announce the birth of His son?
We now appoint a committee to study which people God should pick to announce the birth of His Son. As committee chair person, I think we must consider making the announcement of the birth to the educated. I would have hand picked the educated of the day, so their learning could help the poetic prose of writing to distinguish the birth in the roll call of history, for all history will hinge on the doors of this great event. Great mental power can lose creative ability if not written. Well, we all know, most shepherds had little formal education. Hey, God what’ya doing, call the educated?
Well, after consideration maybe the educated will get tangled in the mental process and look for some greater thought and miss this event. Now, committee let us ponder....the rich. I would have sought out the rich to make my announcement,...... "a Savior is born!" This good news will cost much money to spread the fame.
The rich can invest their money and promote God’s son. Can’t money accomplish this with ease? Hey, God, what are you doing calling this idea crazy, we can use money??
OK, committee weigh carefully with regard to this action the politically correct. I know God, speak to the political establishment, tell Kings, tell those of government involvement: for their political organization can expand and extend the good news to reach to the far outpost. Kings and governors shall proclaim our message. Hey, God, how about tell the governmental authorities, they will be good at making our message widely known? Let the powerful proclaim, God!
Well, committee that idea was rejected, God thinks they will be jealous and try and kill the new King, now what?
If there is no wisdom in telling the educated, the rich, or the Kings......let us tell the beautiful, the stars, the highly publicized performers.....they can spend their talents, their artistic aptitude will advance our cause. Well, God you endowed these dispositions of great artistic ability, use them for your glory.
Committee, God put His thumbs down to that. There must be a better idea?? I forgot the most important ones to announce the birth of the Messiah.....they have long predicted this event. Let’s gather all the priest and the scribes, they are the ones authorized to carry the heart of God, besides they meditate for you, the priest know all the laws and customs and they know the religious forms. Call the deacons, Levites, the ecclesiastical successful.....for they are God-called and can distribute God’s message to the lost and hurting.
That is it !!! God announce to the clergy, this committee unanimously and of one mind has decided to vote......make the announcement on the Sabbath day at the congregation of the righteous.
Well, God, you have disagreed with every motion this committee has so moved. Who?? Just tell us. God says....."see those shepherds abiding in the field??? I will invite them to the birthday party!!" No, not those poor, stupid, ugly, nobodies, what traits can they have to be considered worthy of this message, if you trust them......Your Son has no chance of fame.
God saw some neat things in those poor, uneducated, nobodies. Luke 2:10-20.
1) They will listen...Luke 2:1 , they put aside the fear.
2) vs 15.....They said..." Let us go now....", they needed not to re-arrange their appointment books...they were now ready
3) vs 16 with haste they came....the harvest is plenteous, say not 4 months ... say not let’s go bury the dead, .... say not I have new land...new oxen...and new relationships....but rapid motion...URGENCY...can’t wait
4) vs 16...they found Mary and Joseph.....follow Divine direction
They saw it....blessed are the eyes that really see.....many others walked right past the birth place...they were too busy to see
5) vs 17.....they made known abroad..... Jesus looks for those that accept and share......the shepherds were never the same....they invested in others...what if you claim to be a fisherman and never near the water???? Today we are failing to share.....we must go into the highways and by ways and compel.....
How long since you gave away a tract of the good news??
6) the shepherds were available......many pray Lord send me....as they rock in their comfort chairs..... we are looking for big fields.....when there is a resthome close enough to regularly show the love of God
7) One of the best traits.....vs 20 And the shepherds returned.....glorifying and praising God for all things that they had heard, as it was told to them.......
How on earth can one return to the fleas and sheep stuff between the toes, the cold nights......with zeal???? To be used of God to touch others and leave the fragrance of the Master and return to the menial everyday task....shows me the shepherds must have seen the BIGGER PICTURE...... We are just a spoke in the wheel, John the Baptist.....knew it when he declared..." I must decrease......that HE MAY INCREASE.....
We must find joy in the menial and DO What we can, where we can, when we can!!!
God in His infinite wisdom knew shepherds would be the best.
Yet I stand amazed......THANK YOU LORD FOR CHOOSING THE LITTLE.
These lessons are my Christmas present for His Birthday. I invest the time and effort, but these are worthless without His anointing and your reading.
Please enlarge my hands and pass this to others.
I am honored to hear from you, I love that, but to really honor me, pass it on for others to read, or print and give to a little preacher. There are no blessings or curses, if you do or if not, you just enlarge my hands.
Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
The Candy Cane (unknown)
"It had to be special to be a gift for the King of Kings," thought the humble candy maker. Not just any piece of candy would do!
It had to be hard candy because the Church is built on the Solid Rock and God’s promises are a firm foundation.
It would be formed in the shape of the Good Shepherd’s staff.. a "J" that would also stand for the precious name of Jesus.
Its white stripes would symbolize the virgin birth and sinless nature of Christ.
Its small red stripes would represent the scourging Jesus suffered on His way to the cross.
Its large red stripe would remind those with eyes to see and ears to hear of the blood Jesus shed as payment for our sins.
"It would be a gift of love that would tell His story,
the greatest story ever told."
