Luke 2:8

Shepherds. [The Announcement to the Shepherds, Luke 2:8-20. See The Nativity.] These simple but devout men spent the silent hours of the night talking together of the promised Messiah and praying for His coming (see DA 47). They were apparently among that small but faithful number who waited “for the consolation of Israel” (v. 25) and “looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38; see on Matt. 1:18; Luke 2:25, 26, 38). It is ever to such persons that Heaven imparts light and truth.

Only those who “hunger and thirst after righteousness” may expect to be “filled” (Matt. 5:6). Only those who seek for light and truth will find it (see Matt. 7:7; Heb. 9:28). It matters not how humble our station in life, the all-important thing is to cherish in our hearts “that blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).

The leaders of Israel, untrue to their trust, were passed by in favor of a group of humble and devout shepherds. Even when the priests and rabbis in Jerusalem heard the report of the visit of the angels to the shepherds they refused to believe. Unlike the shepherds, they would not go to Bethlehem to investigate, and branded the report an idle tale (see DA 63).

Abiding. If the ordinary custom was followed, the shepherds were living in the fields both day and night. This clearly implies that the season was after the rains of April, and before the rains of November (see Vol. II, pp. 108, 110), the season when sheep were commonly kept in the open fields. Winters are cold and wet in the mountain regions of Judea, and if it had been winter, the shepherds would have sought shelter from the heavy winter rains for themselves and their flocks. Considering all the evidence regarding the time of Christ’s birth, it seems that placing the birth in the autumn of the year would fit best the chronological pattern of the context. This does not, however, rule out the possibility that the birth occurred at some other season. See on ch. 1:57.

It was not until the 4th century of the Christian Era that December 25 came to be observed as the birthday of the Christ. According to the Julian calendar, this was the date of the winter solstice, when the sun turned northward. In heathen lands this season was marked by festive celebrations, known among the Romans as the Saturnalia, held in honor of the rebirth of various solar deities. It was in the Western church that the birth of Christ was first associated with this pagan holiday.

Keeping watch. Literally, “watching watches,” the plural probably indicating that the shepherds took turns. These fields were the very ones where David had tended his father’s flocks (see DA 47). In the vicinity of Bethlehem was “the tower of Edar,” literally, “the tower of the flock” (see on Gen. 35:21; cf. Micah 4:8). According to tradition, it was here that flocks destined for sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem were gathered. It may be that the shepherds to whom the angels appeared were “keeping watch” over flocks already set apart for this purpose.