Psalms 8:1, 16:2, 3:1-4, 145:1-4, and 64:2-4.

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures looking at Luke 2 again. This time the Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind with one word in verses 13-14:

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.

The word that captured my attention was suddenly. It describes an event that is instant, in which the entire event or its effect occurs in the immediate moment; also, it refers to something unexpected, or surprising with regard to timing, and from the perspective of those surprised by the event.

Along the still waters I pondered the Spirit’s declaration that the host appeared suddenly.

The event described in the account of the Shepherds’ encounter with the heavenly host was not sudden to God. He spoke of this day to Abraham (John 8:56*— 1,913 years, to 1,780  years), and to Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6—written c700 BC), and Micah (Micah 5:2—written c697 BC; see Matthew 2:1). Abraham “saw” the resurrection. But God was thinking very specifically about the appearing of His Son at least 700 years earlier, and specifically about the place and time of His birth at least 697 years earlier—this was not a “sudden” event for GOD.

It was sudden for the Shepherds. Also, the event of the angelic host appearing occurred in an instant: all at once, and suddenly. We experience God’s movements as sudden. In the mind and plan of GOD, the moment came for God to move, and the angels suddenly appeared to the shepherds.

God anticipates the calamity of the wicked long in advance, and He is longsuffering, reaching out to them with compassion and long forbearance (Romans 2:4; 3:25). But when the calamity comes, it comes fully, and suddenly (Psalm 64:7; Proverbs 6:15; 24:22; etc.). The sudden judgment of God appears to the sinner to be surprising, and sudden, final, and to their surprise only because of their pride and arrogance. No wicked person ever received their judgment from God without protest (Luke 16:19-31; see also Matthew 7:22).

God also anticipates the coming of Christ for and with His saints, and repeatedly uses language suggesting it will be quick (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). It is described as an event like the flash of lightning (Matthew 24:27), and warned the saint to not be caught off guard (Mark 13:35-37): on at least two occasions Jesus warned the church to be prepared lest He come quickly and find them unprepared (Revelation 2:5, 16; see Luke 12:40).

But although we have been told to watch, and be alway ready, I think the event long anticipated by God and the saints, when it comes will come suddenly — for we will be translated from earth in a twinkling of the eye (1 Corinthians 15:52). Those ashamed at His appearing will no doubt be surprised at the event (1 John 2:28), and for us who have longed for the day, we will “suddenly” forget the long wait and the trials we have endured (John 16:21).

With our face forward toward eternity, the past will seem short. For the wicked facing eternity, the past will seem like a vapor.

Live in the present with an eye on eternity; move forward looking unto Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). He said, “Behold, I come quickly and my reward is with me” (Revelation 22:12; see also Revelation 3:11). Selah!

In the valley, kneeling in the shadow of His Cross, I heard Him call: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup intermingled with His sufficient grace. Goodness and mercy followed me as I followed Him into His harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

Going live asap:

https://rumble.com/v7gve2m-shepherds-pasture-suddenly.html

[*What event in Abraham’s life marks the moment he “saw” Christ’s day? It would certainly have been after Abram “believed God” (Genesis 12:1-4 with 15:6). If we calculate Abraham’s age as 84 years when he rescued Lot from Chedolaomer and his associate armies, then the special covenant God made with Abraham recorded in Genesis 15, was at least 9 years after he entered into Canaan. He was 65 when Ishmael was born, and 14 years later, Sarah gave birth to Abraham’s covenant son, Isaac, at 100 years of age. Tradition holds that Isaac was 37 when Abraham took him to the mount in Moriah to offer him as a burnt offering (Genesis 22) where the event occurred that most likely answers to Jesus’ statement in John 8:56. Jesus said “Abraham saw my day,” and Genesis 22 emphasizes what Abraham “saw” : he “saw” the place (Genesis 22:4), he “saw” what God was going to do (Genesis 22:8), he “saw” the substitute sacrifice for his son (Genesis 22:13), and declared that “in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Genesis 22:14), and, as James confirmed, the covenant between God and Abraham was ratified on both sides of the contract (Genesis 22:15-19). Shortly thereafter, Sarah died (Genesis 23:1-2). The first plot of land in Canaan owned by Abraham was a burial place for his bride (Genesis 23:3-20).]