Psalm 8:1 and a few Christmas carols: e.g., Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee (Lyric: Henry Van Dyke (1907) music: Ode to Joy by Ludwig von Beethoven (1824).

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Luke 2, this time considering the angel of the LORD and His message to the shepherds:

Luke 2:8 ¶ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

Luke 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

It seems to me that if this “angel of the Lord” were Gabriel, the text would say so. God is “a Spirit” (John 4:24). He created the angels to serve as ministering spirits commissioned by Him to attend to those who are the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:7, 13-14). Sometimes, the expression “the angel of the LORD” refers to a manifestation of GOD by His Spirit (Exodus 3:2-4, and others). The expression, Holy Ghost, is in fact a reference to occasions when the Spirit of GOD manifests to men—the word ghost signifying an apparition of a spirit. This “Angel” might have been an appearance of the Holy Spirit, that is, the Holy Ghost.

When the Holy Ghost manifested to Israel upon the Tabernacle, the glory of God was manifested by a cloud or smoke that filled it (Exodus 40:34-35; Leviticus 9:23; Numbers 16:42). This also occurred with Solomon’s Temple (1 Kings 8:1; see 2 Chronicles 7:1-3). Notice what happened when the “angel of the Lord” appeared to the shepherds: “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid” (Luke 2:9).

Along the still waters, I reflected on the announcement as coming from the Holy Ghost: “Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). It made me think about the activity of the Spirit of GOD in the birthday of God’s Son!

The Holy Ghost came upon Mary, and by this, the power of the Highest overshadowed her, so that the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: “When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:18), so that which was conceived in her [was] of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:20). She was a virgin when she conceived (Isaiah 7:14) and remained a virgin till after Jesus was born, and Joseph and Mary came together.

The Christmas herald called upon us: “Fear not!” Don’t be afraid of the glory of GOD manifested by the appearance of “the angel of the LORD”; He appeared not for their harm but for their good. Christ often comforted His disciples, saying, “Fear not,” and announced that He came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them (Luke 9:56). Consider the activity of the Spirit in and through Jesus’ life (Matthew 12:18, 28; Luke 4:1, 14-18; John 1:32; 3:34). 

The angel brought “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10). From the word tidings, we get the word Evangel (-ism, -ist). The word is translated “Gospel” and means “good news”! This Gospel is to be given to “all people” (1 Timothy 2:4; 1 John 2:1-2; Matthew 28:18-20 (see Matthew 24:14); Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21; Acts 1:8). The good news is that our Saviour was born in the city of David—Bethlehem—the house of bread! We celebrate the Day Christ was sent into the world to save sinners. God set the tone of our celebration with His appearance to the Shepherds on the day of His birth: JOYFUL!

Joyful joyful we adore You

God of glory Lord of light

Angels lifting praise before You

Sing throughout this holy night

In a manger lies a baby

Child of Mary Son of God

Voices joined in joyful chorus

Praise You for Your gift of love*

Alas, the Light has shone around the world, but many prefer the darkness to the Light He brought. Jesus warned of this. He said men who love darkness will recoil from the light, and hate Him (John 3:17-21; John 8:12). The ragers fulfill this prophecy (Psalm 2). But Jesus also said that those who do truth will love the light and come to Him (John 3:17-21). We spread the message of Christmas to all: Christ has come, the Saviour of the world. We declare God’s command that all men everywhere must repent (Acts 17:30), and turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to GOD (Acts 26:18). Those who repent and believe receive the joy of Light! (Matthew 4:16). Those who refuse remain in darkness. Hatred is their chief characteristic (1 John 2:9-11).

In the valley, with joy, I knelt in the shadow of Jesus’ Cross and thought of the irony: The Angel joyfully proclaimed His announcement of Christ’s birth was “good tidings of great joy”—I thought about that as I gazed upon the Cross. Then I remembered that is was for the “joy that was set before him” that He “endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 2:2a), and that it was for this that God has “highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9) that He is now “set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2b). Truly, the bessedness of Christmas is giving (Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).

Christ Jesus renewed His call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The tongues of flame will not be set upon this head unless the vessel under it is surrendered. So I renewed my surrender: reckoning myself to be dead indeed unto sin but alive to GOD (Romans 6:11), I presented this body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2), took up my cross, and followed Him (Galatians 2:20). The light of His countenance drew me to His table.

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we went into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v73fp6m-shepherds-pasture.html

[* The rest of the lyric:

All Your works declare Your glory

All creation joins to sing

Praise resounds as earth rejoices

In the birth of Christ the King

Shepherds kneel before the Infant

Trumpets sound and anthems raise

As with joy our hearts are lifted

Joined in wonder love and praise.

Always giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Well-spring of the joy of living,

Ocean-depth of happy rest!

Loving Father, Christ our Brother,

Let Your light upon us shine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Mortals, join the mighty chorus,

Which the morning stars began;

God’s own love is reigning o’er us,

Joining people hand in hand.

Ever singing, march we onward,

Victors in the midst of strife;

Joyful music leads us sunward

In the triumph song of life.

Music: Ode (Hymn) to Joy: Ludwig von Beethoven (1824)

Lyric: Henry Van Dyke (1907)]