Shepherd Boys See Angels Over the HillsBible World
2:13Luke 2:13
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host joins the single announcing angel in praising God, after that angel first quiets the shepherds' fear and gives them time to grow accustomed to divine radiance so they can endure the greater brightness. This happens by night on the plains and hills around Bethlehem where David had led his flock, as shepherds keep watch, with the glory of the Lord lighting the whole plain and marking God's presence. The first announcement comes to humble shepherds who long and pray for the promised Saviour rather than to priests, rulers and learned expositors who profess to know prophecy yet are proud, feel no need, and expect a mighty temporal king to make them rich and great. The host's praise honors the Son of God come to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, proclaiming glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men in joy over salvation through One come in poverty and humility to suffer and die. Their song heard on earth shows heaven is not far from earth, with angels attending people in ordinary work and common life at God's command, while Satan hears the announcement and knows his rule is challenged.
Appearance Setting and Manner
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appears with the single announcing angel, joining him in praising God over the newborn Saviour. One leading angel first reveals himself alone to quiet the shepherds' fear and announce the birth, and with tender regard for human weakness gives them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance. At first the shepherds are alarmed and sore afraid at the brightness and cannot discern the myriads gathered above, nor could they have borne at once the radiance of the whole host. As their eyes grow accustomed to the brightness of the angel speaking to them their fear leaves and joy takes its place, and they are strengthened to endure the greater brightness when joy and glory can no longer be hidden and the multitude is revealed.
The appearing takes place by night, as shepherds keep watch over their flocks on the plains and hills around Bethlehem. Those are the fields where David had led his flock, and the plains of Bethlehem where humble shepherds guard their charges. Heaven draws near to ordinary people in humble, everyday work, attending those who follow faithfully in common life.
The angels come surrounded by the glory of the Lord, and the bright shining of the hosts of God lights up the whole plain. The heavens are lit by the light surrounding the messengers, enshrouded in light as they herald the infant King, and the brilliant illumination is seen even from afar. The light shining on the hills marks God's presence, and after the messenger returns to heaven a bright unusual light lingers like a new star.
The angel messengers veil their glory for those willing to receive the heavenly Guest, so their glory is veiled as they announce the newborn King over Bethlehem. They are enshrouded in clouds as they proclaim His birth, and enshrouded in light as they herald the advent to the humble shepherds. A company of shining angels is thus seen in the sky after the heavenly light appears over Bethlehem.
Humble Shepherds Chosen Witnesses
The first announcement of the Messiah's birth was made to humble shepherds, when a multitude of the heavenly host suddenly appeared with the announcing angel in praise to God. No men heralded the Messiah, so angels did the honored work, sent not to the learned Jews who professed to expound prophecy and knew the Saviour was soon to come but had no heart to receive it. They were sent to humble shepherds guarding their flocks by night rather than to priests and rulers, to humble people ready to receive the message rather than to the great, powerful, and honored who remained in darkness. Those passed by were too proud to receive Him as a helpless child of humble parentage, feeling no need of greater piety, expecting a mighty temporal king who would make them rich and great, rehearsing meaningless prayers and performing rites to be seen by men while striving for riches and worldly honor.
The shepherds were good and humble men keeping their flocks on the hills around Bethlehem, talking together about the promised Saviour as they watched by night and praying earnestly for His coming. Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen, and the shepherds of Bethlehem gave heed to the light God had revealed to them. Heaven's embassy of praise came to the land of the chosen people where God's glory had been revealed and prophecy had shone, coming unseen to Jerusalem to the expositors of the Sacred Oracles and ministers of God's house. With amazement it beheld the indifference of the people called to communicate sacred truth to the world, preserved as a witness that Christ would be born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line yet not knowing His coming was at hand, with the daily morning and evening sacrifice in the temple pointing to the Lamb of God yet with no preparation to receive Him, and with selfish world-engrossed hearts untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven.
The light and glory of the many angels first alarmed the shepherds, who were strengthened after one angel quieted their fear and revealed the message so they could then endure the greater brightness. The angel messengers veiled their glory for those willing to receive the heavenly Guest, announcing over Bethlehem a newborn King who came as an infant of days of poor parentage with divinity clothed with humanity and majesty and lowliness combined. The humble shepherds believed Him, received Him, welcomed Him, and worshiped Him, told where to find Him and going with joyful hearts and rejoicing, amazement, love, and gratitude that God in infinite mercy sent His Son for the salvation of men. They hastened to Bethlehem, found the babe as testified, and carried the joyful news, the message, the tidings of the glory, and the united proclamation abroad to others, their praises heard as the heavenly chorus rang over the hills of Bethlehem with hosannas to the newborn King.
The very ones who ought to have been the first to welcome Jesus did not discern Him because delusive hope for a temporal prince led them to misapply Scripture and expect a different coming. The report of the angels' visit to the shepherds announcing Christ's birth reached Jerusalem. There the priests and rabbis and religious leaders treated that report as unworthy of notice, dismissed it and refused to investigate, helping to begin their rejection of Christ.
Praise Celebrating Redemptive Mission
The multitude joins the single herald in praising and glorifying God to honor the advent of the Son of God come to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, and His death would bring peace and happiness and everlasting life to humanity. Their anthem proclaims glory to God in the highest with peace on earth and goodwill toward men, expressing the joy of heaven in the salvation of the fallen world. It celebrates the One who came in human poverty and humility to suffer and die for sinners, and the plains of Bethlehem are filled with angels singing anthems that honor the newborn Redeemer with songs of gladness.
His birth brings joy in all heaven even though the great men and great people of earth do not know of His coming, and while He enters the world in humility the hosts praise God over the plains in a chorus of joy at the Redeemer's coming. Earth is hushed and heaven stoops to listen as the whole plain is lighted with the bright shining of the hosts of God singing glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Their appearing declares that Jesus has come bringing the light of heaven as the Redeemer of mankind to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free with glad tidings of great joy.
The angels deeply wonder at the plan of redemption and watch to see how God's people will receive His Son in humanity, admiring His perfect character and glory. Unlike priests and rulers they recognize and know Christ as the Son of God, and by their praise over the plains of Bethlehem they bear testimony to His authority and commission and mission. Their appearance as signs and wonders in the heavens proves that all heaven recognized the advent of Christ.
The setting is marked by humility rather than earthly display and without worldly grandeur, honoring a Saviour of humble parentage whose character and not His birth was to bear witness to His mission. The Messiah is therefore to be accepted on the testimony of God's word and drawn to people by heavenly truth, not by worldly honor or outward attraction. His humiliation shows God's deep sympathy for the humblest and lowliest, so that no lowly condition is too deep when it brings the sympathy and companionship of the One who was equal with God.
Heavenly Testimony Opposed Rejected
The verse shows a multitude of heavenly angels joining the angel who announced Jesus' birth, praising God and declaring the birth of the Saviour. Their appearance and praise gave divine confirmation of the newborn child's authority and commission. Their song proclaimed Christ's advent to a fallen world and expressed joy at His coming to accomplish redemption. Satan heard their announcement and song and recognized that Christ had come to challenge his rule. He understood that this event threatened his kingdom, and he began planning to destroy the Prince of life.
The multitude appeared on the plains of Bethlehem attended by the glory of God. That glory had scarcely disappeared when the malice of envious Herod was aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour.
Linked Signs Future Triumph
When the angelic messenger returned to heaven a luminous star appeared and lingered in the heavens. That star was in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels appearing like a star. The heavens had been brilliantly illuminated by the glory surrounding the multitude of the heavenly host as they heralded the advent to the humble shepherds, and that light was seen even from afar. The wise men in the East saw that strange light and heavenly illumination on the same night the angels came to the shepherds of Bethlehem, but they were not privileged to hear the proclamation made to the shepherds, who saw the angels face to face and heard them. When the bright light faded, what remained looked like a new star, and the Spirit of God moved the watching wise men to regard it as the sign of the advent of Messiah, which they took as the sign that He had come and determined to follow into Judea.
The angels who had witnessed and worshiped Christ's splendor in heaven were disappointed to see their Commander take so humble a position. God revealed Christ directly by angels to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem but by a star to the Magi, because He works in every place in the manner that can best reach and educate the people there. The same mighty angel who announced the birth with the multitude praising God later descended from heaven to the Savior's tomb at the resurrection, rolled away the stone, and called the Son of God forth. As at His birth so at His rising the angel guards bowed low in adoration before their Redeemer and welcomed Him coming forth in majesty and glory with songs of praise. Then the angels again praised and adored the Redeemer and sang the song of redeeming love and triumph over His finished work as at His birth.
Their anthem proclaiming God's glory and peace and goodwill on earth foreshadowed the song all the nations of the saved will one day sing. The appearing of the multitude of the heavenly host to shepherds keeping their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem proved that all heaven recognized the advent of Christ. That angelic glory at His first coming shows His second coming will not be wanting in glory, for He comes to triumph with heaven and nature testifying to His triumph.
Heaven Near Daily Life
The song heard by shepherds on earth shows heaven is not far from earth, and is no farther today than when the shepherds listened to the angels' song. Humanity is the object of heaven's care, and heaven may be very near to those in the common walks of life. Angels from the courts above attend the steps of those who come and go at God's command, attending people in the midst of ordinary work and common life as they watched their flocks near Bethlehem. Ordinary work did not keep the shepherds from meeting heavenly messengers, and angels still attend those who go about daily life at God's command and follow God faithfully. They stand beside humble workers for God, observe how they work, and guard their work from deterioration or becoming harmful to His cause when they trust in Him.
As angels accompanied Christ at Bethlehem, God can likewise work through His ministers and shed light and glory upon them. The praise of the angelic multitude was expressed in music that thrilled the hearts of the shepherds and swept round the world with its influence. That music shows music is of heavenly origin and holds great power to lift praise to God who is purity and harmony. That heavenly praise sets the pattern for human voices to praise Him, with heaven-connected singing so that angels can sing through human singers. It is also the pattern for the songs of victory with which the redeemed will enter the immortal reward.
Heavenly angels join Christians in joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving and cannot be silent. Christians have the best right to sing songs of rejoicing because the gospel is good tidings of great joy and because they have the expectation of being members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. When the promises of God are freely and fully accepted, heaven's brightness is brought into the life. Those who receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour have sin taken away and are clothed with His garments of light and His righteousness so that their joy is full. While remaining sober and watchful and never light or frivolous, they are always to be cheerful and to express appreciation of the Christian's hope by song.
The heralding of the birth to the shepherds, together with directing Joseph to preserve the life of the infant Saviour, shows God especially honoring Joseph and Mary by entrusting them with the responsible charge of the Saviour.
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host joins the single announcing angel in praising God, after that angel first quiets the shepherds' fear and gives them time to grow accustomed to divine radiance so they can endure the greater brightness. This happens by night on the plains and hills around Bethlehem where David had led his flock, as shepherds keep watch, with the glory of the Lord lighting the whole plain and marking God's presence. The first announcement comes to humble shepherds who long and pray for the promised Saviour rather than to priests, rulers and learned expositors who profess to know prophecy yet are proud, feel no need, and expect a mighty temporal king to make them rich and great. The host's praise honors the Son of God come to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, proclaiming glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men in joy over salvation through One come in poverty and humility to suffer and die. Their song heard on earth shows heaven is not far from earth, with angels attending people in ordinary work and common life at God's command, while Satan hears the announcement and knows his rule is challenged.
Appearance Setting and Manner
Suddenly a multitude of the heavenly host appears with the single announcing angel, joining him in praising God over the newborn Saviour. One leading angel first reveals himself alone to quiet the shepherds' fear and announce the birth, and with tender regard for human weakness gives them time to become accustomed to the divine radiance. At first the shepherds are alarmed and sore afraid at the brightness and cannot discern the myriads gathered above, nor could they have borne at once the radiance of the whole host. As their eyes grow accustomed to the brightness of the angel speaking to them their fear leaves and joy takes its place, and they are strengthened to endure the greater brightness when joy and glory can no longer be hidden and the multitude is revealed.
The appearing takes place by night, as shepherds keep watch over their flocks on the plains and hills around Bethlehem. Those are the fields where David had led his flock, and the plains of Bethlehem where humble shepherds guard their charges. Heaven draws near to ordinary people in humble, everyday work, attending those who follow faithfully in common life.
The angels come surrounded by the glory of the Lord, and the bright shining of the hosts of God lights up the whole plain. The heavens are lit by the light surrounding the messengers, enshrouded in light as they herald the infant King, and the brilliant illumination is seen even from afar. The light shining on the hills marks God's presence, and after the messenger returns to heaven a bright unusual light lingers like a new star.
The angel messengers veil their glory for those willing to receive the heavenly Guest, so their glory is veiled as they announce the newborn King over Bethlehem. They are enshrouded in clouds as they proclaim His birth, and enshrouded in light as they herald the advent to the humble shepherds. A company of shining angels is thus seen in the sky after the heavenly light appears over Bethlehem.
Humble Shepherds Chosen Witnesses
The first announcement of the Messiah's birth was made to humble shepherds, when a multitude of the heavenly host suddenly appeared with the announcing angel in praise to God. No men heralded the Messiah, so angels did the honored work, sent not to the learned Jews who professed to expound prophecy and knew the Saviour was soon to come but had no heart to receive it. They were sent to humble shepherds guarding their flocks by night rather than to priests and rulers, to humble people ready to receive the message rather than to the great, powerful, and honored who remained in darkness. Those passed by were too proud to receive Him as a helpless child of humble parentage, feeling no need of greater piety, expecting a mighty temporal king who would make them rich and great, rehearsing meaningless prayers and performing rites to be seen by men while striving for riches and worldly honor.
The shepherds were good and humble men keeping their flocks on the hills around Bethlehem, talking together about the promised Saviour as they watched by night and praying earnestly for His coming. Only a few were longing to behold the Unseen, and the shepherds of Bethlehem gave heed to the light God had revealed to them. Heaven's embassy of praise came to the land of the chosen people where God's glory had been revealed and prophecy had shone, coming unseen to Jerusalem to the expositors of the Sacred Oracles and ministers of God's house. With amazement it beheld the indifference of the people called to communicate sacred truth to the world, preserved as a witness that Christ would be born of the seed of Abraham and of David's line yet not knowing His coming was at hand, with the daily morning and evening sacrifice in the temple pointing to the Lamb of God yet with no preparation to receive Him, and with selfish world-engrossed hearts untouched by the joy that thrilled all heaven.
The light and glory of the many angels first alarmed the shepherds, who were strengthened after one angel quieted their fear and revealed the message so they could then endure the greater brightness. The angel messengers veiled their glory for those willing to receive the heavenly Guest, announcing over Bethlehem a newborn King who came as an infant of days of poor parentage with divinity clothed with humanity and majesty and lowliness combined. The humble shepherds believed Him, received Him, welcomed Him, and worshiped Him, told where to find Him and going with joyful hearts and rejoicing, amazement, love, and gratitude that God in infinite mercy sent His Son for the salvation of men. They hastened to Bethlehem, found the babe as testified, and carried the joyful news, the message, the tidings of the glory, and the united proclamation abroad to others, their praises heard as the heavenly chorus rang over the hills of Bethlehem with hosannas to the newborn King.
The very ones who ought to have been the first to welcome Jesus did not discern Him because delusive hope for a temporal prince led them to misapply Scripture and expect a different coming. The report of the angels' visit to the shepherds announcing Christ's birth reached Jerusalem. There the priests and rabbis and religious leaders treated that report as unworthy of notice, dismissed it and refused to investigate, helping to begin their rejection of Christ.
Praise Celebrating Redemptive Mission
The multitude joins the single herald in praising and glorifying God to honor the advent of the Son of God come to a fallen world to accomplish redemption, and His death would bring peace and happiness and everlasting life to humanity. Their anthem proclaims glory to God in the highest with peace on earth and goodwill toward men, expressing the joy of heaven in the salvation of the fallen world. It celebrates the One who came in human poverty and humility to suffer and die for sinners, and the plains of Bethlehem are filled with angels singing anthems that honor the newborn Redeemer with songs of gladness.
His birth brings joy in all heaven even though the great men and great people of earth do not know of His coming, and while He enters the world in humility the hosts praise God over the plains in a chorus of joy at the Redeemer's coming. Earth is hushed and heaven stoops to listen as the whole plain is lighted with the bright shining of the hosts of God singing glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. Their appearing declares that Jesus has come bringing the light of heaven as the Redeemer of mankind to limit the power of Satan and set the captive free with glad tidings of great joy.
The angels deeply wonder at the plan of redemption and watch to see how God's people will receive His Son in humanity, admiring His perfect character and glory. Unlike priests and rulers they recognize and know Christ as the Son of God, and by their praise over the plains of Bethlehem they bear testimony to His authority and commission and mission. Their appearance as signs and wonders in the heavens proves that all heaven recognized the advent of Christ.
The setting is marked by humility rather than earthly display and without worldly grandeur, honoring a Saviour of humble parentage whose character and not His birth was to bear witness to His mission. The Messiah is therefore to be accepted on the testimony of God's word and drawn to people by heavenly truth, not by worldly honor or outward attraction. His humiliation shows God's deep sympathy for the humblest and lowliest, so that no lowly condition is too deep when it brings the sympathy and companionship of the One who was equal with God.
Heavenly Testimony Opposed Rejected
The verse shows a multitude of heavenly angels joining the angel who announced Jesus' birth, praising God and declaring the birth of the Saviour. Their appearance and praise gave divine confirmation of the newborn child's authority and commission. Their song proclaimed Christ's advent to a fallen world and expressed joy at His coming to accomplish redemption. Satan heard their announcement and song and recognized that Christ had come to challenge his rule. He understood that this event threatened his kingdom, and he began planning to destroy the Prince of life.
The multitude appeared on the plains of Bethlehem attended by the glory of God. That glory had scarcely disappeared when the malice of envious Herod was aroused in opposition to the infant Saviour.
Linked Signs Future Triumph
When the angelic messenger returned to heaven a luminous star appeared and lingered in the heavens. That star was in reality a distant cluster of flaming angels appearing like a star. The heavens had been brilliantly illuminated by the glory surrounding the multitude of the heavenly host as they heralded the advent to the humble shepherds, and that light was seen even from afar. The wise men in the East saw that strange light and heavenly illumination on the same night the angels came to the shepherds of Bethlehem, but they were not privileged to hear the proclamation made to the shepherds, who saw the angels face to face and heard them. When the bright light faded, what remained looked like a new star, and the Spirit of God moved the watching wise men to regard it as the sign of the advent of Messiah, which they took as the sign that He had come and determined to follow into Judea.
The angels who had witnessed and worshiped Christ's splendor in heaven were disappointed to see their Commander take so humble a position. God revealed Christ directly by angels to the shepherds on the plains of Bethlehem but by a star to the Magi, because He works in every place in the manner that can best reach and educate the people there. The same mighty angel who announced the birth with the multitude praising God later descended from heaven to the Savior's tomb at the resurrection, rolled away the stone, and called the Son of God forth. As at His birth so at His rising the angel guards bowed low in adoration before their Redeemer and welcomed Him coming forth in majesty and glory with songs of praise. Then the angels again praised and adored the Redeemer and sang the song of redeeming love and triumph over His finished work as at His birth.
Their anthem proclaiming God's glory and peace and goodwill on earth foreshadowed the song all the nations of the saved will one day sing. The appearing of the multitude of the heavenly host to shepherds keeping their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem proved that all heaven recognized the advent of Christ. That angelic glory at His first coming shows His second coming will not be wanting in glory, for He comes to triumph with heaven and nature testifying to His triumph.
Heaven Near Daily Life
The song heard by shepherds on earth shows heaven is not far from earth, and is no farther today than when the shepherds listened to the angels' song. Humanity is the object of heaven's care, and heaven may be very near to those in the common walks of life. Angels from the courts above attend the steps of those who come and go at God's command, attending people in the midst of ordinary work and common life as they watched their flocks near Bethlehem. Ordinary work did not keep the shepherds from meeting heavenly messengers, and angels still attend those who go about daily life at God's command and follow God faithfully. They stand beside humble workers for God, observe how they work, and guard their work from deterioration or becoming harmful to His cause when they trust in Him.
As angels accompanied Christ at Bethlehem, God can likewise work through His ministers and shed light and glory upon them. The praise of the angelic multitude was expressed in music that thrilled the hearts of the shepherds and swept round the world with its influence. That music shows music is of heavenly origin and holds great power to lift praise to God who is purity and harmony. That heavenly praise sets the pattern for human voices to praise Him, with heaven-connected singing so that angels can sing through human singers. It is also the pattern for the songs of victory with which the redeemed will enter the immortal reward.
Heavenly angels join Christians in joyous songs of praise and thanksgiving and cannot be silent. Christians have the best right to sing songs of rejoicing because the gospel is good tidings of great joy and because they have the expectation of being members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. When the promises of God are freely and fully accepted, heaven's brightness is brought into the life. Those who receive Christ as a sin-pardoning Saviour have sin taken away and are clothed with His garments of light and His righteousness so that their joy is full. While remaining sober and watchful and never light or frivolous, they are always to be cheerful and to express appreciation of the Christian's hope by song.
The heralding of the birth to the shepherds, together with directing Joseph to preserve the life of the infant Saviour, shows God especially honoring Joseph and Mary by entrusting them with the responsible charge of the Saviour.