The angels left and the shepherds decided to go to Bethlehem. Shepherds often watched over their flocks in lambing seasonMarch through April (Hebrew, Nisan) making a spring birthdate (1) most likely. (43). Jerome. An angel relates it to the shepherds, and many sing praises to God for it. This hymn has as its roots a text from the wisdom of Solomon, a part of the Old Testament Apocrypha. 2, p. 18). Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. Biblical narrative [ edit] Rembrandt The Angel Appearing to the Shepherds, 1634 (ie. (42). Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. For all, that call upon the name of the Lord Jesus will be saved (1). So glad a message was it that it could not be spoken by a solitary voice. John 1:29. Therefore, Jesus could not have been born later than March/April of 4 B.C. The annunciation to the shepherds is an episode in the Nativity of Jesus described in the Bible in Luke 2, in which angels tell a group of shepherds about the birth of Jesus. As, when the sacrifice was laid on the altar, the Temple-music burst forth in three sections, each marked by the blast of the priests silver trumpets, as if each Psalm were to be a Tris-Hagion; so, when the Herald-Angel had spoken, a multitude of heavens host stood forth to hymn the good tidings he had brought. Apr 13, 2010. (2018). Luke 2:8-20 -And in the same area there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. You can know Him as Savior and Lord today. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". And when the shepherds found their way to Mary and Joseph, we read that when they saw the baby Jesus, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child (v.17). Gloria, in excelsis Deo! A Christmas Quiz | Baptist Press Shepherding the Christmas Angels A.D. 150-215) wrote about theories that Jesus had been born in the spring, on April 20-21 or May 20. And now the hush of wondering expectancy fell once more on all, who heard what was told by the shepherdsthis time not only in the hill-country of Juda, but within the wider circle that embraced Bethlehem and the Holy City. Realize, from the God Eye view, the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus are as good as done! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He also published commentaries on the OT prophets and Ecclesiastes and a biography of Paul the Hermit. The Mishnah : A new translation (p. 263). But also a song of annunciation, and hope. Why is Gloria sung in Angels we have heard on high? The Messiah was born in the very location pinpointed by the prophet Micah. Normally, shepherds were considered outcasts in society. 11Today in the town of David a Savior(C) has been born to you; he is the Messiah,(D) the Lord. The text simply says that Mary was greatly troubled at Gabriel's greeting but not his appearance (Luke 1:29). According to scripture, only a spotless lamb can temporarily cover sins (Exodus 12:5) or cleanse from all sin for all time (1 Peter 1:19. Enter code FAITH. It is not the case. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The angel tells us that "there has been born for you a Saviour". Do angels sing? - CompellingTruth.org Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Heaven and earth seemed to mingle, as suddenly an Angel stood before their dazzled eyes, while the outstreaming glory of the Lord seemed to enwrap them, as in a mantle of light. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. In any translation process there can be variances in how words get translated from one language into another. So glad a message was it that it could not be spoken by a solitary voice. Therefore, it was in keeping with the law for them to inspect the spotless Lamb of God that came to take away the sin of all the world! (19011906). Keep returning to it for guidance, instruction and to grow in your relationship with God as you bring praise to God through your life. Isaiah 57:19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. The shepherds actions indicated that they understood the significance of the circumstances. Painting: "Angel Announcing the Birth of Christ to Shepherds" by Robert Leinweber, "Hark the Herald angels sing" are the lyrics to a beloved carol. a. Surprise, awe, fear would be hushed into calm and expectancy, as from the Angel they heard, that what they saw boded not judgment, but ushered in to waiting Israel the great joy of those good tidings which he brought: that the long-promised Saviour, Messiah, Lord, was born in the City of David, and that they themselves might go and see, and recognize Him by the humbleness of the circumstances surrounding His Nativity. Of a sudden came the long-delayed, unthought-of announcement. During a census, Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem; however, finding no place to stay (11), they went out from the city of Bethlehem to the open country or fields surrounding it, and that is where the infant Jesus was born. 16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. It does not store any personal data. What were the first words the angel said? "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (47) Norman L. Geisler and Randy Douglass,Bringing Your Faith to Work, p. 169. (42), Another error or misconception that Dionysius perpetuated was the fixing of December 25 as the birthday of Jesus. He believes, second to cultivating his relationship with God that raising his family unto the Lord is the most significant task for him while on Earth. The message from the angel of the Lord was given in the traditional angelic form of reassurance, the informational message, and then the sign to confirm it. "On that first Christmas the heavenly hosts could have been a verse-speaking choir. On the Hebrew religious calendar, March 20, 6 B.C. It appears more likely than not that singing is in view. Or, did they really sing at all? (1990). Gader I = Tower of Gader. So the star guiding the Magi was not used to predict, but to proclaim the birth of Christ. (47). The first floor had only one unique purpose; it was ceremonially cleansed and sanctified by the Levitical priests as an inspection chamber for thelambs of sacrifice. Astrology was prevalent in the ancient Near East, and the magi were astrologers, astronomers, and mathematicians who relied on calculations to predict signs in the stars. However, the context of these passages must also be taken into consideration. There were shepherds taking care of their flocks at night. 5. The angel explains that he has a message of good news for all people, namely that Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. What did the angels sing to the shepherds when Jesus was born? Recall that Daniel, starting in 604 B.C., was in charge of the magi and may have communicated the prophecy of a coming king in Judah. Discover Prayer (Part VII): Be Persistent! "Don't be afraid!" he said. Just as humans worship God in both spoken words and song, it is likely that angels do the same. By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Perhaps friendly women were still passing to and fro on errands of mercy, when the shepherds reached the stable. There they found, perhaps not what they had expected, but as they had been told. Animals straying from Jerusalem on any side, as far as from Jerusalem to Migdal Eder, were offered in sacrifice. If you have any questions, please review our Privacy Policy or email us at privacy@biblegateway.com. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. The first was one of the most significant holidays and was even grander than the Saturnalia. That is, God is bidding all to come and feed upon the bread of life! He is God with us (1), Immanuel! I confirmed for myself that there was an occultation of Jupiter by the Moon in Aries after sunset. The New International Version uses this insight to translate the verse as "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." questions in the temple with the teachers, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, NT Gospels: Luke 2:13 Suddenly there was with the angel (Luke Lu Lk). A baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then it had been the Tris-Hagion of prophetic anticipation; now that of Evangelic fulfilment. The angels got the sheepherders to see Jesus on the night of His birth were as the Magi visited Jesus up to two years later. Then the Angels hymn had heralded the announcement of the Kingdom coming; now that of the King come. Commercial Photography: How To Get The Right Shots And Be Successful, Nikon Coolpix P510 Review: Helps You Take Cool Snaps, 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Marshmallow, Technological Advancements: How Technology Has Changed Our Lives (In A Bad Way), 15 Tips, Tricks and Shortcuts for your Android Lollipop, Awe-Inspiring Android Apps Fabulous Five, IM Graphics Plugin Review: You Dont Need A Graphic Designer. During childbirth and with the issue of blood loss, the same rules applied (Leviticus 12:2-4). (41) Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). Amen. This included flocks as far north as Jerusalem, and within the area of Bethlehem on every side, the males were offered as burnt offerings, the females as peace offerings (8). The word is one which both our Lord (Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21) and St. Paul use of the divine will in its aspect of benevolence, and the corresponding verb appears, as uttered by the divine voice, at the Baptism and Transfiguration (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5). Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural - Superlative. God entrusted shepherds with the wonderful announcement that the prophecies concerning the Messiahs birth had been fulfilled. 5.) Among the early followers and apostles of Jesus, Matthew is mentioned in Matthew 9:9 and Matthew 10:3 as a publican (KJV) or tax collector (NIV) who, while sitting at the receipt of custom in Capernaum, was called to follow Jesus. New York: Prentice Hall Press. Here are a few facts we can know: They were the first to be told; They were busy doing what they always do. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. "No war or battle's soundWas heard the world aroundThe idle spear and shield were high uphung:The hooked chariot stood. According to the Mithraic art that has survived the ages, Mithras and the Unconquerable Sun ruled over the cosmos together; that is, they oversaw and controlled the motions of the stars and planets. The angels had a message to tell to the shepherds and this brought them joy, and caused them to sing. The child would be named John (Luke 1:11-25). New York: Longmans, Green, and Co. (5) Translator of the Vulgate, a Latin translation of the Bible based on Hebrew texts of the OT and the oldest Greek texts of the NT available at the time. What Did the Angels Sing to the Shepherds? So when God went looking for a king to rule Israel, He went looking for someone with a heart just like He and the Word havethe heart of a shepherd. Question Do angels sing? Amen. Luke records that they began saying to one another, Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us. And they came in haste and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger (v.15, 16). Why did the angels announce the birth of Jesus to the shepherds first? a. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Again, they hurried off because they knew exactly where the birth had taken place! By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.16.