Why Shepherds? Why Us?

WHY SHEPHERDS? WHY US?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT: LUKE 2: 7---20

I. IF I WERE GOD?

If I were God I think I would have sent the most important message of the birth of my son

into hands that were not the rough. I would not have called uneducated, lowly shepherd.

A. GOD, WHY NOT ANNOUNCE THE MESSAGE TO THE KING!

If I were God I would have made my announcement to the Governmental authority or the head of state of the day.

The King could make a proclamation. The Queen could have a baby shower.

The King had the communication lines that would pass the information of the Baby Jesus to all the unknown political systems known.

But God knew the rotten, mean King would be jealous and protective to guard His Kingdom.

The logic of the great influential political leaders would not be wise.

B. GOD, WHY NOT THE STARS OF THAT DAY?

If I were God I would use the pretty people that had great fame and great name.

These Stars would be the highly published and known of their day. These men and women had

great talents, their great fame could help spread the news God’s son is born!

Maybe the stars would not want to share their prominent important roles with God’s son.

C. IF I WERE GOD I WOULD TAP THE MILITARY POWERS OF THE AREA.

If I were God I would surely call about the military generals that have earned their honor from great military battles. These men of superior rank and military force could propagate the announcement of this precious babe in Bethlehem.

Maybe it would be dangerous because this new babe does not want a Kingdom of force.

D. IF I WERE GOD I WOULD PLUG INTO THE FINANCIAL POWER OF THE WEALTHY.

These rich people would have an abundance of materialistic resources to be dispersed to make the announcement far and wide the Savior is born.

God knew the greed and selfishness of the money people, profit is their goal, not the little prophet that would walk among the common people.

E. WELL, GOD AT LEAST SPEAK THE MESSAGE TO THE WHO’S WHO?

Seems who’s who is bent on applause and records?

F. GOD, I KNOW --- SPEAK TO THE EDUCATED SCRIBES.

The educated men could used their schooling and train and instruct all students about God’s

Only son. The mentally developed and all their polished, fancy words could launch God’s message.

But, God knew the scholars of the day would reason and lecture away the Divine little boy.

G. I KNOW, I KNOW, IF IT IS GOD’S SON, THEN LET’S MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT TO GOD’S PREACHERS AND PRIEST? LET’S FIND THE HIGH PRIEST, HE KNOWS ALL THE SCRIPTURES, THIS IS THE LOGICAL ANSWER.

God’s men should be the great announcer for God’s son!

Yet, God knew the religious crowd was so burdened by tradition and ceremony, that they

argued and fussed, and excluded people, and hated people, that God could not use

the religious leaders from the temple.

II. GOD DOES NOT LOOK AT PEOPLE LIKE PEOPLE LOOK AT PEOPLE!

A. THERE MUST BE A REASON GOD CAME TO LOWLY SHEPHERDS IN THE FIELD!

God loves poor people as much as he loves rich people! God loves low class people as much as the high class!

I am always amazed at why God entrusted and spoke the greatest news ever told to lowly shepherds. The men that served as shepherds in Jesus day were often uneducated and often times not very polished men. Shepherds were lonely people, spending days and weeks away

from other people and their families.

While shepherds were tending their flocks they often missed religious traditions and

by today’s standard we probably would not consider them very holy leaders.

Shepherds were wanderers and lived in tents, and often times they never had a tent,

they slept in the open air with their sheep. They were not always bathed and clean.

B. GOD DOES NOT LOOK TO THE EXTERNALS!

God does not look at gender, race, age, or any other man developed system to call who he chooses to call.

God can use failures to bring His Greatness.

It is not the shepherds that are so important, it is the message that must be told.

III. LET’S SEE WHY GOD CHOSE SHEPHERDS!

A. THEY WERE WORKERS.

The shepherds were not lazy, idle, pleasure seekers.

Luke 2:8 shepherds abiding in the field.

B. THE SHEPHERDS WERE KEEPING WATCH...

They were not all asleep, they had their eyes open, Luke 2:8.

C. THE SHEPHERDS WERE LISTENING WITH THEIR EARS...

Luke 2:10 -- 12, And the angels said...

How blessed we are when we have ears that hear the word of God!

These words the angels spoke were hallowed words, these were the Promise of the Father.