Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

Now there were living in the same country

shepherds living out in the fields,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were greatly afraid.

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid..."

Luke 3:8-10, NKJV

It was a moonless summer night, quiet and seasonably warm. On the hills around Bethlehem, flocks of sheep were bedded down for the night, watched by their vigilant shepherd guardians. In a nearby cave set into a hillside, a singular event of universal proportions was taking place, the birth of a child that would change the world and forever alter the course of humanity. For the moment, the shepherds were oblivious to the birth. But they would not be ignorant for long.


In a flash of light, an angel breached the realm between heaven and earth, between the things which are seen and that which is eternal. We are not told his name, but perhaps it was Gabriel again, that great announcer of good and joyful news. We are not told his appearance, except that he was accompanied by the shining glory of God, but Israelites were familiar with angelic visitations and always seemed to know when they were being addressed by a celestial being. And their reaction is always the same. Fear.


Perhaps it was the angel's size. Perhaps it was the luminescent glow of God's glory. Perhaps it was simply the sudden appearing of the angel from invisibility. But this was no common occurrence. This was no every day happening. This was no ho-hum, another-angel-appeared-to-me-today (and he was dressed in yellow polka dots...symbolizing the spotty nature of the revelation). This was a revelation of the glory of God, a little bit of heaven illuminating earth to enlighten the earthlings.


And the shepherds were greatly afraid.


With reason, I think. Angels in their history had a penchant for being harbingers of great things to come, usually terrible things. Like the destruction of cities and the overthrow of nations, the slaughter of God's enemies and sometimes His disobedient people. To date, angelic appearances often preceded judgment.

But not tonight. As he stood there shining in the light of heaven's manifested excellency, he spoke to them. I can hear it in the surround sound of my technicolor imagination, a deep and gentle voice, ethereal and strong, majestic and benevolent, awesome and soul stirring. and he said these beautiful words: "Be not afraid!"