Reflections

Angel Messengers

Thoughts on Luke 2:8-15
by Deborah Piggott

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields,
keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them,
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were greatly afraid.

Angels, divine messengers sent by God to proclaim truth. They have brought messages of warning and also of comfort in times of danger and fear. Sometimes they are like a strike force executing God’s judgment. But nothing matches the task these heavenly beings carried out the night of Jesus birth.

Angel ornament

"Do not be afraid, for behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David
a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you:
You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger."

First one angel appeared who immediately comforted the fearful shepherds, announcing the birth of the Saviour then… multitudes of angels arrived to sing praise.

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"

Can you even imagine the sound of that Hallelujah Chorus in the quiet fields as the shepherds stood in awe with the glory of the Lord shining around them?

At this turning point in history, shepherds, common men, took action. They responded with trust, comforted by the knowledge that a message delivered in this extraordinary way could only be from their God who had a specific task for them.

...when the angels had gone away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another,
"Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass,
which the Lord has made known to us."


Photo by Ron Hughes
© December 2007