David rolled over and let out a big yawn. As he sat up he looked around the field. Everything looked perfectly normal, like nothing special had happened last night. Had it all been a dream?
As he walked around the field, encouraging the sheep to move to a new section of grass, David thought about last night...the angels, the baby, the singing....he glanced over toward Bethlehem and shook his head...it was just so hard to believe...maybe it had just been a wonderful dream.
It started as a perfectly normal night. The flock was gathered together for a restful evening. It was David’s turn to stay awake, to make sure nothing happened, and all the others settled in for a sleep. David’s turn would come later.
As the evening drew on something kept David looking toward the town, It looked just like it always did but for some reason David was sure there was something special happening over there. Maybe it was just all that extra traffic for the census. So many people! David was glad to be out here in the field where things were quiet.
Suddenly there was this bright light all around. For a moment David thought the nearby bushes were on fire but then he realized the light was coming from the sky. He let out a yell and the rest of the shepherds woke up and jumped to their feet, sure that something was attacking the sheep. Then they saw the light and all fell on their faces. As David’s eyes adjusted to the light he could see a shape in it, an angel right there in front of, well above, him. David was frozen where he stood, afraid to move a muscle.
Then the voice came. It wasn’t like any voice David had ever heard before. “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said, “I bring you really good news, good news that is for everybody.” David looked right at the angel, wanting to hear more. “This very night a baby has been born,” the angel continued, “a baby who will be the Messiah, the Promised One of God.”
Now David was curious, excited, and afraid all at once. The elders had been talking about the Promised One for his whole life. They had said this was the one who would come and make Israel great again, bringing peace to everyone. The always reminded David that he had been named after the great King from long ago, and that a new king was coming who would be just as great. David wanted to hear more. How could he see this baby?
The angle was still talking: “Here is how you can know you found the right baby. He will be wrapped in strips of cloth and will be lying in a manger.” David was confused. A manger? Not the fanciest house in town? But then he remembered that the great King David had once been a mere shepherd boy and God chose him for a king. This new baby must be the same.
Suddenly the sky got even brighter. It seemed like dozens more angels appeared. The sky itself seemed to be singing about Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all! The music rang out, echoing off the hills. David’s heart raced. He wanted to join the song!
Then just as suddenly as it began, the song stopped. The light went out like someone had blown out a lamp and the field was dark and quiet again.
The other shepherds were talking excitedly among themselves, then one said to David: “We are going to the town to see if we can find this baby. You are the youngest, you stay here and watch the flock. Don’t lose any of them!” Then they all ran off, leaving David and the sheep alone in the field.
Watching them run down the hill David thought how unfair it was. He wanted to go too. He looked around and suddenly heard a voice telling him to go. The sheep would be fine, just go. David paused for a moment and then he ran after the rest.
When he got to the town David wondered where to go but somehow he just knew. Something or someone led him to a small house. As he got closer he could hear a baby crying, he could hear the other shepherds talking, telling the story of what had happened. This must be the right place.
David quietly snuck in along the side of the room, He didn’t want the others to see him and yell at him for leaving the flock alone. From where he was hiding he could see the manger, the baby nestled in his mother’s arms, everything. The other shepherds stayed for a few minutes then headed back to the field. As they left David could hear them singing and shouting and telling everyone the met what had happened. David knew he should leave too, if the others got back to the field before him he would be in trouble. But he couldn’t leave. He wanted more time to look at the baby.
While he sat and watched the baby started to cry. The mother held him close and started to sing. It was a song about God making everything right, about the hungry being fed, about people in power being pushed out of their fancy chairs and poor people lifted up, about God remembering God’s promises. The song made David feel hopeful, like everything would be alright. Suddenly the woman looked straight at him. She smiled at him and said, “It’s alright, come over here and take a better look.”.
David went over and looked at the baby. As he looked into that tiny face the song the angels sang started to ring in his ears again. He felt so happy.
David remembered the flock out in the field. He had to get back. So he said good bye to the baby, and to the baby’s parents and ran all the way back. He got there just before the other shepherds. They would never even know he had left. When they got back it was David’s turn to sleep for a while before dawn.
As he lay down in the grass David kept thinking of everything that had happened. As he drifted off to sleep he saw the angels. He saw the baby. He heard the angel song. He heard the song the mother had sung to calm the baby. As he slept he dreamed of all the wonderful things God must be planning to do through this baby. It was a wonderful night, a wonderful dream. David was happy.
Many years later David would be in Jerusalem and see a teacher come to town riding on a donkey. That day David would remember that very special night with the angels and the baby. But that is a story for another time.
As the evening drew on something kept David looking toward the town, It looked just like it always did but for some reason David was sure there was something special happening over there. Maybe it was just all that extra traffic for the census. So many people! David was glad to be out here in the field where things were quiet.
Suddenly there was this bright light all around. For a moment David thought the nearby bushes were on fire but then he realized the light was coming from the sky. He let out a yell and the rest of the shepherds woke up and jumped to their feet, sure that something was attacking the sheep. Then they saw the light and all fell on their faces. As David’s eyes adjusted to the light he could see a shape in it, an angel right there in front of, well above, him. David was frozen where he stood, afraid to move a muscle.
Then the voice came. It wasn’t like any voice David had ever heard before. “Don’t be afraid,” the angel said, “I bring you really good news, good news that is for everybody.” David looked right at the angel, wanting to hear more. “This very night a baby has been born,” the angel continued, “a baby who will be the Messiah, the Promised One of God.”
Now David was curious, excited, and afraid all at once. The elders had been talking about the Promised One for his whole life. They had said this was the one who would come and make Israel great again, bringing peace to everyone. The always reminded David that he had been named after the great King from long ago, and that a new king was coming who would be just as great. David wanted to hear more. How could he see this baby?
The angle was still talking: “Here is how you can know you found the right baby. He will be wrapped in strips of cloth and will be lying in a manger.” David was confused. A manger? Not the fanciest house in town? But then he remembered that the great King David had once been a mere shepherd boy and God chose him for a king. This new baby must be the same.
Suddenly the sky got even brighter. It seemed like dozens more angels appeared. The sky itself seemed to be singing about Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all! The music rang out, echoing off the hills. David’s heart raced. He wanted to join the song!
Then just as suddenly as it began, the song stopped. The light went out like someone had blown out a lamp and the field was dark and quiet again.
The other shepherds were talking excitedly among themselves, then one said to David: “We are going to the town to see if we can find this baby. You are the youngest, you stay here and watch the flock. Don’t lose any of them!” Then they all ran off, leaving David and the sheep alone in the field.
Watching them run down the hill David thought how unfair it was. He wanted to go too. He looked around and suddenly heard a voice telling him to go. The sheep would be fine, just go. David paused for a moment and then he ran after the rest.
When he got to the town David wondered where to go but somehow he just knew. Something or someone led him to a small house. As he got closer he could hear a baby crying, he could hear the other shepherds talking, telling the story of what had happened. This must be the right place.
David quietly snuck in along the side of the room, He didn’t want the others to see him and yell at him for leaving the flock alone. From where he was hiding he could see the manger, the baby nestled in his mother’s arms, everything. The other shepherds stayed for a few minutes then headed back to the field. As they left David could hear them singing and shouting and telling everyone the met what had happened. David knew he should leave too, if the others got back to the field before him he would be in trouble. But he couldn’t leave. He wanted more time to look at the baby.
While he sat and watched the baby started to cry. The mother held him close and started to sing. It was a song about God making everything right, about the hungry being fed, about people in power being pushed out of their fancy chairs and poor people lifted up, about God remembering God’s promises. The song made David feel hopeful, like everything would be alright. Suddenly the woman looked straight at him. She smiled at him and said, “It’s alright, come over here and take a better look.”.
David went over and looked at the baby. As he looked into that tiny face the song the angels sang started to ring in his ears again. He felt so happy.
David remembered the flock out in the field. He had to get back. So he said good bye to the baby, and to the baby’s parents and ran all the way back. He got there just before the other shepherds. They would never even know he had left. When they got back it was David’s turn to sleep for a while before dawn.
As he lay down in the grass David kept thinking of everything that had happened. As he drifted off to sleep he saw the angels. He saw the baby. He heard the angel song. He heard the song the mother had sung to calm the baby. As he slept he dreamed of all the wonderful things God must be planning to do through this baby. It was a wonderful night, a wonderful dream. David was happy.
Many years later David would be in Jerusalem and see a teacher come to town riding on a donkey. That day David would remember that very special night with the angels and the baby. But that is a story for another time.
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