December 26

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 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: 8, 9.

Two classes of men were led to Bethlehem to witness the new-born Messiah, the wise men from the East, and the shepherds. The former were versed in the works of nature. They were especially astronomers and star-gazers, and God conducts them by a star. The latter were Jews. They had the Scriptures in their hands, and these were directed by an angel. God has various methods of manifesting himself to his creatures, but none of them are arbitrary. They all evince his “wisdom and prudence,” and are adapted to the state and circumstances of the beings with whom he has to do.

Angels are all ministering spirits. And if they attend the heirs of salvation, how much more the Author of it. If they wait on the servants, how much more on the Son, who is Lord of all. When he bringeth his first-begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. He was seen of angels.

“We might have expected that this glorious messenger would have been sent to persons of rank and authority — to the rulers, to the doctors of the law, to the ministers of the sanctuary, to Herod, to the high-priest. But God’s thoughts are not our thoughts. Man judgeth after the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh to the heart. He is no respecter of persons. The distinctions of life, which, owing to folly, are the sources of so much pride to some, and envy to others, are nothing to Him. He is equally “nigh unto all them that call upon him,” whatever be their outward condition, as the sun shines in the valley as well as on the hill. It was to these shepherds the angel of the Lord appeared. And may not this be considered an intimation of the persons for whom the dispensation was principally designed, and by whom it would be chiefly received? Hence we read, “The poor have the gospel preached unto them.” “The common people heard him gladly.” “Have any of the rulers believed on him?” “Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” Not that the rich and great are excluded. And there always have been a few who have humbled themselves to be exalted. But “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught. things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.”

We have much reason to conclude that these shepherds were among the number of those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem. While many of their countrymen in ceiled houses were seeking their consolation in the world, they, like Simeon, were waiting for the Conlation of Israel. Perhaps at this very moment they were silently musing, or perhaps conversing with each other — for they were obviously together — “when the kingdom of God should come,” and sighing out the words of David, “0 that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! When God bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.” When, “lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them!”

And this angel, by his example, teaches us, however much we may be placed above them, not to overlook the poor, nor refuse to visit them, especially God’s poor; for they are rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him. It is a character of the citizen of Zion, that in his eyes a vile person is contemned, however high; but he honors them that fear the Lord, though they may not have the gold ring and the gay clothing.

The sacred historian has not failed to tell us how these men were engaged at the time of their being thus distinguished. They were in the field keeping watch over their flock by night.* Thus they were abiding in their calling, and faithfully and actively discharging the duties of it. Never mind how humble your occupations may be;

“Honor and shame from no condition rise:
Act well your part — there all the merit lies.”

Be attentive and diligent, and you are useful and respectable. They ought to blush who do nothing, or have nothing to do. Their mode of living is as inconsistent with the life of a Christian required in the gospel, as a life of vice. The tree that bringeth forth no good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. The servant that hid his lord’s talent in a napkin did not abuse it; but because he was an unprofitable servant, he was a wicked one, and therefore punished. The case of these shepherds is not a solitary one. Go through the Scriptures, and make out a list of all those whom God favored and dignified with his visits, and show me one among them all that was a drone in the community, or not properly and usefully employed. Other beings are more likely to appear to the useless and idle. “Our idle days,” says Bishop Hall,” are the devil’s busy ones.77 And Watts says,

“For Satan finds some mischief still,
For idle hands to do.”

It was well said by an old Puritan, “I find diligence the best preservative from temptation; for when Satan comes to me with his proposals, I say to him, I cannot attend to thee now, I am so busy.”

“The labor of the righteous tendeth to life.” “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”