Christmas

The frost is thick on this cold winter morning--like a glob of glue clinging to paper and here we are a few days before Christmas and Christmas Eve. And I'm reading Luke 2--the Christmas story and a word that hasn't meant much to me in the past suddenly flashes a little brighter--"country".

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (Luke 2:8)

I've been listening to a Bible teacher teach on the book of 1 Samuel--the story in chapter 16--Samuel is sent to Jesse's home in search of a new king. God sent him to Bethlehem to anoint His next king. And there Jesse lined up his seven sons--waiting for the "proud father moment"--the pouring of the oil--the covering of sanctification--the calling of the Lord on one of his seven sons.

And Samuel, he knew it would be the oldest--but it was not. And God kept saying--no, as Jesse's sons were presented to Samuel.

It is not his outward appearance I am looking for--it's the heart. You don't see what I see, Samuel.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)

God said no to all seven of Jesse's sons--the ones before Samuel. And the irony of the story--Samuel asked Jesse, Are here all thy children? (16:11)

And Jesse said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. (16:11)

It wasn't Jesse who told Samuel about his youngest son--Samuel had to ask.

Jesse had forgotten David--his own son--born number eight--the baby boy of the family. Or maybe it was because he didn't think he would be considered--worthy--because of his age--his job as "merely" the shepherd boy.

And Samuel would not sit down--would not rest until God's next king was anointed.

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look at. And the Lord said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. (16:vs. 11-12)

Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David. And David went back to the field--as a shepherd boy--tending his sheep. His time had not come for him to be king--not just yet.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

(Luke 2:8-11)

These shepherds--protecting their flock by the light of the stars--a fire glowing in the warmth of the night--on the hillside of Bethlehem--the shepherds in which the angel spoke, fear not--the shepherds who God sent the birth announcement by the way of an angel--by the way of a night sky filled with heavenly hosts. My Son has been born--you are welcome to go and see--be His first visitors.

Could this country hillside of Bethlehem--could this have been the very field David was tending his sheep when Samuel sent for him--could this have been the very field one of David's older brothers or a messenger shouted for David to come home--Samuel, the priest has come to see you.

God had not forgotten Jesse's youngest, David. God had not forgotten these lowly shepherds--ones who society deemed as smelly--dirty--misfits.

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.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

(Luke 2:15-20)

Both the shepherds and the shepherd boy, David went back to the field--David for only a little while. And the shepherds and the shepherd boy--their lives were never the same.

And on this Monday evening, two days before Christmas--reflecting on my day--horns of traffic were blaring and it seemed almost everyone was in a rushed state of mind. And I remember the store deli clerk at Lowe's Foods--his name tag read Aaron--his kindness and patience he showed me as he answered questions and then cut up six different kinds of meats and cheeses for my order. And the young boy--all of ten or eleven years old at Lowe's Hardware--his mama had sent him out the sliding door to get a cart and as I stood waiting for my cart--he rolled out the first one and said, 'Here you can have this one.' And I thanked him and inside, I told his mama her sweet boy gave me the first cart and she smiled.

The love of Christmas is not in the gifts tied up in pretty bows and paper, but in the gifts of seeing. In the gift of the greatest gift of God's love--the baby born in a manger--the Saviour who died on the cross.

Just as God didn't forget David or the shepherds, God has not forgotten you. Nor has He forgotten me.

And during this Christmas, and in our everyday--let us not forget Him.