“During the night, in a field nearby, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks of sheep.”

This passage is read every year as part of the Christmas story. Most of the time we consider it as simply providing information, setting the scene for what is about to happen. However, when we skim over this passage as merely setup, we miss something important. We miss the night.

Night is a time of darkness. Metaphorically, the night symbolizes a time of distress, destitution, and hopelessness. We have all experienced seasons of night during our life. We have faced seasons where it was all you could do to keep your head above the water, where hope burned dim, and where no relief was in sight. In our Christmas celebrations, with all the laughter, carols, and family gatherings, sometimes we forget there are still people who are alone, who are suffering, and who are in a hopeless season of night.

It was night for the Jews. It had been four hundred years since the last prophet heard a new word from God. Rome had risen to power and was now oppressively controlling Israel. The outlook appeared grim. However, it was also night for the whole world. The truth is it had been night for a very long time. The long perilous night began when the first humans disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. Since then, the whole human race had known nothing else but night. Generation after generation dwelt in the darkness of night. Even in this hopelessness, however, a ray of light still pierced through the shadows. A hope of a redeemer.  

There is beautiful imagery in this passage that comes in an unexpected form. During the night, shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks of sheep. In scripture, the shepherd is always a picture of God. God carefully protects those He loves. He watches over His own. Isaiah 40:11 says, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” (NLT). We are the flock. God is the shepherd. There has never been a night that you have been alone. There has never been a darkness that you have gone through where God has not gone through it with you. In the brokenness of your heart, God has held you close to His heart. In your loss, God has led you. In your defeat, God has picked you up. In your battle, God has watched over you. He is the Good Shepherd. In fact, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd. In John 14:11, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep…” (NLT). God took upon Himself human flesh, becoming a man, so that He could save mankind. Jesus, God Incarnate, is our shepherd. He will hold us close to His heart, and gently lead us. He will fight for us. He will come for us. He will watch over us. And ultimately, He will sacrifice Himself to save us. The shepherd has always been the beacon of hope in the darkest of nights.

While night can be a frightening time, the night also brings anticipation of the morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning” (NLT). This is the promise of the night – that no matter how long, how hard, or how devastating the night may be, the morning will always come. With the morning arrive all the mercies of God. The shepherds had no idea the morning they had been anticipating had arrived. The light had come and shattered the darkness. Zechariah spoke of this when he prophesied, “Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadows of death, and to guide us to the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79 NLT).

The hope of morning is a beautiful and powerful ally. It is not our only weapon against the night, though. In the following passage, we see another example of a weapon available to us. This weapon is the act of worship. In the Christmas story, we are told the angels sang, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14. NLT). In the darkest part of the night, the angels worshipped the Lord. They praised Him. There is something very important and powerful about worshiping during the night. The angels knew this. In fact, scripture is filled with stories about how God moved in mighty ways, when His people worshipped during the night. One of my favorite illustrations is when Paul and Silas were in prison. Acts 16:25-26 says, “Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off!” A simple act of worship brought freedom and deliverance to what seemed like a hopelessly dark situation for them.When you have reached your midnight, and the morning light seems hopeless and far away – sing! Praise the Lord! Let the worship flow from your heart! Your worship will inspire the Living God to move. Make no mistake, God will move mountains for the sake of His beloved children.

So, while it is night, let us join the angels and sing, for Christ, our Good Shepherd, is tending His flock. He is the approaching morning light. And yet, this light is already here!