8 In the countryside nearby were some shepherds spending the night in the fields, guarding their flocks, 9 when an angel of Adonai appeared to them, and the Sh’khinah of Adonai shone around them. They were terrified; 10 but the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am here announcing to you Good News that will bring great joy to all the people. 11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” 13 Suddenly, along with the angel was a vast army from heaven praising God:
14 “In the highest heaven, glory to God!
And on earth, peace among people of good will!”
15 No sooner had the angels left them and gone back into heaven than the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go over to Beit-Lechem and see this thing that has happened, that Adonai has told us about.” 16 Hurrying off, they came and found Miryam and Yosef, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 17 Upon seeing this, they made known what they had been told about this child; 18 and all who heard were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 19 Miryam treasured all these things and kept mulling them over in her heart. 20 Meanwhile, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen; it had been just as they had been told.
[Complete Jewish Bible]---------------------
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing yougood news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.'" (Luke 2:10-11)
In the Old Testament, worshipers brought their prayers, requests and petitions to the priest in the form of a lament. After hearing a worshiper's lament, the priest consulted the Urim and Thummim. If a positive response were indicated, the priest would begin a salvation oracle with the words, "Do not be afraid . . ." When Luke depicts the announcement of the birth of Christ as beginning with these same words, we hear, along with those shepherds tending their flocks by night, the grandest salvation oracle of them all--the good news of the birth of a savior, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. This "good news" is truly the beginning of the gospel.
Gracious God, make me like the shepherds, glorifying and praising you for all that I have seen and heard. Amen.
Mark Throntveit
Professor and Elva B. Lovell Chair of Old Testament, Luther Seminary
Luke 2:8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:
11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.
12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;
18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.
19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.[New Revised Standard Version]
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