Friday, December 17, 2010
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 10-12 and James 2
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 10-12 and James 2
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 2:8-9 (NIV); And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
God has a habit of picking shepherds. The two greatest leaders of His people – Moses and David – received their training while tending the flocks. They were shepherds of bleating sheep before becoming shepherds of obstinate people. Shepherds were considered lowly in society. They were nomads, roaming the fields and pastures with their flocks, isolated from most of society and indispensable to all but their sheep. It was to these humble and seemingly unworthy rovers that the angels appeared in the glory of God.
God had long been worshipped as the Shepherd of Israel. He chose the well-fitted analogy because sheep are foolish followers. His people are sheep and without a shepherd they will follow sin to their doom. David was the beloved shepherd-king of Israel, and yet He sang the words “The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.”
On this majestic night 2000 years ago, the true Shepherd of Israel was born and the message was delivered firstly to these humble tenders of the flock. The Good Shepherd was revealed to those who were meek and lowly as a sign that the Lord had come to shame the wise and exalt the humble.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend some time thinking about what you have read today. What does the Lord want to say to you specifically through it?
2. Why is this detail of the shepherds important to the Christmas story? What do you think would be lacking if this part had not happened?
3. When have you felt unworthy of a grace that you received from another person or from the Lord? Thank God for this blessing.
4. Ask God to point out areas where you need to grow in humility. Where is pride evident in your life and how is it causing problems in your relationship with God and with others? Confess as necessary and ask God how you can grow in humility.
