Sunday, December 21, 2014

Day 22: "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night"

   I have fond memories of this song. I don't have the most pleasant of voices, it isn't like nails on a chalkboard or anything, but I can count on one hand the number of times I have sung in front of an audience that I wasn't hiding out in a choir. One of those was the illustrious performance of "Silent Night", and another was this song, which I performed with several of my sisters and my mother. That is the single time that I have done that as an adult. I had never heard this song before my mom suggested we sing it at a Christmas Eve service, and I immediately liked it. We did *not* sing all six verses, nor did we sing it perfectly. However, we did sing it joyously, as a humble homage to the King. I'm guessing that the shepherds paid their respects in much the same way-knowing they had little to offer, but giving all they had, confident He would make up the difference.

Lyrics: "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night"
(This one isn't in the Baptist Hymnal, either.)

Questions for thought and discussion;
1. It's pretty obvious throughout Scripture that God is pretty fond of shepherds. (Read about David if you need reminding!) However, He didn't elevate their status-sheep herding wasn't a plush job, they didn't make six figures, or have any status of which to speak. You would think if He liked them so much, He would have changed all that, right? Why do you think God chose to allow shepherds to maintain such a lowly position? What part did that play in the Christmas story?

2.  Our pastor spoke of the shepherds this morning and he pointed out something I had never noticed before: the shepherds were not commanded to find Jesus, they chose to go. That is such a great example of our own freedom to choose Jesus. How else do their actions concerning seeking Jesus, finding Him and sharing Him are a reflection of the experience of a believer?

Looking for the printable? Find it here.

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