God’s word to mankind is a love letter, it’s a warning, a covenant document signed in the blood of His only Son. It is great literature, because what God does He always does with excellence. God’s love for His creation and His many messages for us earthlings shine forth in almost every page, as does His artistry. I think of the amazingly beautiful contrast between the grungy shepherds outside of Bethlehem where Jesus was born, and their visitation by a “vast host” of singing angels (NLT).
Now I’ve seen angels. Have you? I have seen them in my spirit, and lucid visions (the kind that appears before you like a movie, only it’s a living image). This is part of the wisdom gifts, some saints just “know,” some see, some both know and see, some hear, the method of perception varies but the result is the same – a transfer of information from God about your destiny and work on the earth, AND an encounter – the experience of God’s eternal heavenly kingdom in the now. This is explained further in I Cor 12 and 13, and revealed by example in the book of Acts as well as the gospels.
If you are one who sees, you know that it comes when you are seeking Jesus. When I’ve seen angels, my focus isn’t on having a vision or dream, it’s on learning new truth from Him, communing in His presence, and worshipping Him. I can honestly say with all the dreams and visions I’ve had, I have never sought a single one. Many were highly unexpected.
The visitation of the angels to the shepherds is a form of lucid vision. The Bethlehem sheepfolds, where the angels showed up on the night of Jesus’ birth, were the source of the perfect lambs presented for sacrifice at the Temple a few miles away in Jerusalem. The keeping of such sheep was not just a part of the food chain or Jewish garment industry, it was a sacred office held by Jewish ministers, probably Levites. To them was entrusted the protection of these sheep and perfection of their lambs. According to the law, one tiny blemish on their lamb meant a person’s sins were not completely covered, leaving an opening for wrath to enter their life during the ensuing year. The perfect lamb’s blood was required in place of theirs. It was a prototype of Jesus, though His blood not only covers but takes away sin for all time. No need for yearly sacrifice.
Lambing duty for the Temple was esteemed, though it was lowly. Not as lowly as a private shepherd because it was still apart of the Levitical priesthood. But lowly, nevertheless. It was like doing toilet cleaning at your church. Or more appropriately, like watching the babies in the church nursery, for hours and hours. It was an honor, but it was low in the hierarchy of Jewish politics and power.
Yet it wasn’t to the Levitical priests in the Temple that the angels appeared. Look what happens when you do what God leads you to do, no matter how humble, especially in His house, the local church.
These humble, grungy shepherds were the first to see Jesus after His birth! You know they were special, their heart was for the house of the Lord in ways others weren’t. They had agreed to dedicate their lives to helping the faithful bring a worthy offering to God. They had been willing to submit to this call assigned to them. How appropriate and wonderful that they were blessed to be given a front-row seat on the advent of God’s next covenant offering, Jesus, the final Lamb of a far better covenant!
Would they have understood the significance of the newborn savior? They sure as heaven knew something big was happening in the Kingdom of God and on earth. Evidence suggests they were actually trained men who knew the ancient scriptures, the law and the prophets and the poetry books, they had read of the mystery of God’s plan to put a “new heart” into His people. They had lots of time under the sunny blue and starry night sky to meditate on the prophecies, and, being Jewish students of the law, had probably discussed it with each other.
One lone angel showed up first (Luke 2:8-20). This advance scout had a radiant glory that was probably like 10 nuclear bombs going off at the same time, in terms of its brightness. The shepherds were utterly terrified, even before the angel was joined by an army of angels. God’s heavenly host! They sang the transcendent song thanking God and celebrating His gift in Jesus, while the shepherds marveled and quaked.
There must have been a reassurance imparted to them. For clearly, the shepherds moved from fear to faith, hope, joy and eager anticipation. This is what happens any time we turn from the natural understanding of things to the spiritual one. They were refreshed by their experience, and when it was over, they said, ‘let’s go and see what’s just gone down in Bethlehem that they were singing about’. They had the energy and enthusiasm to travel what was probably about 6 miles to the city in the wee hours of the night, to search for and find the newborn Messiah.
Whether they knew what they were seeing or not, our Abba God certainly knew. Who better to rejoice with than those who tended the original sacrificial lambs?
If you are feeling a call to lamb duty or some other form of humble job at your church, don’t despise it. One eminent pastor started out cleaning toilets at his church, and did so for six years before he was promoted to greeter. His preaching was eventually known worldwide. Whatever you do, as you do what you are called to do, you will receive a crown of glory in heaven which eventually will be all of our home if we are in Christ. Start somewhere and stay connected with a church or body of believers where you can find good teaching and fellowship. God promises that you will flourish by committing your time and energy to your church. You may even get visited by angels (but don’t look for them, look for Jesus!).
Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God. Ps 92:13
Author Danyelle Read 