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… In the same region [Bethlehem, near Jerusalem] there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord [for many earlier centuries, and today, in all the national history of Israel and in its archives, the Lord was and is the substitute name for YHWH, the God of Abraham in the Hebrew language, whose actual name was too holy, too “other”, to be spoken or written] appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. (Luke 2: 6-18, written circa 60 AD)
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| And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day [circa AD 0] in the city of David [Bethlehem, family home of King David of Israel circa 1000 BC] a Saviour, who is Christ ["Christ" is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah”] the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come into being, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
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In Luke’s biography of Jesus, the above incident took place immediately upon the birth of the Lord Jesus in that Bethlehem stable.
One may well question why the news of this birth was first announced to the “lowest-of-the-low” in Judah at that time. They were challenged – socially, intellectually, financially and mentally.
Nevertheless, having had this fearful thing disclosed to them – and having been told in no uncertain terms “Do not fear” – they decided, together, that they would “go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord” had made known to them.
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Would they then be able to answer the first question asked, centuries later, by hymn-writer Benjamin Russell Hanby – below? He was born in 1833, the oldest of eight children, in Ohio, USA. He died of tuberculosis in 1867.
Who is He in yonder stall/ at whose feet the shepherds fall?
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Would they then be able to answer the first question asked, centuries later, by hymn-writer Benjamin Russell Hanby – below? He was born in 1833, the oldest of eight children, in Ohio, USA. He died of tuberculosis in 1867.
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’Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story!’Tis the Lord! the King of glory!At His feet we humbly fall,Crown Him! crown Him, Lord of all! (B R Hanby, refrain to “Who is He in yonder stall at whose feet the shepherds fall?”)
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Who is He in yonder stall/ at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress/ fasting in the wilderness?
Who is He the people bless/ for His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring/ all the sick and sorrowing?
Who is He that stands and weeps/ at the grave where Lazarus sleeps?
Who is He the gathering throng/ greet with loud triumphant song?
Lo! at midnight, who is He/ prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree/ dies in grief and agony?
Who is He who from the grave/ comes to succour, help, and save?
Who is He who from His throne/ rules through all the worlds alone?
"Do not fear."
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