The Shepherds’ Encounter; Light in the Darkness, a Prophecy Confirmed

I love the Christmas testimonies found in the Bible. 

In Glory to God in the Highest, A Night Full of Wonder, I shared the story of the shepherds' encounter with the angels as I imagined it.

The shepherds who were watching their flocks at night witnessed a heavenly display far greater than any earthly wonder. Angels appeared, proclaiming the joyful news that the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem. Overcome with awe and joy as they listened to the heavenly worship and watched the angelic display, the shepherds then made haste and visited the newborn Jesus. They experienced the peace and wonder of the Lord's favour and shared their testimony with others. 

As I meditated on this story, I asked the Holy Spirit to take me on an adventure through Scripture and to show me new things about this event. This email is the result of that adventure. 

My prayer is that you would catch the excitement I feel as I share these insights with you. 

Angels filling the night sky with worship, while shepherds and sheep are in wonder

Zechariah’s Prophecy in Luke 1:79 is Seen in the Shepherd’s Story

As I was reading the Christmas story, the Lord highlighted Luke 1:79 to me ‘to shine on those living in darkness    and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.’

After Zechariah named his son, 'John', as the angel had decreed, he gave a prophecy about the coming Messiah. The Holy Spirit showed me how in the physical and spiritual sense, this part of the prophecy was fulfilled in the shepherds' story. I know that this prophecy is still being fulfilled today, every time someone is saved, but the shepherds were the first ones to experience what was written in the prophecy.

Physically, the shepherds were in the darkness of the night as they protected and cared for the sheep. They were always in the shadow of death because of the many predators in the territory where their flocks grazed, when the angels came to proclaim the good news. The glory of the angels lit up the night sky and shone upon them as the messenger angel proclaimed the good news and guided the shepherds to the newborn baby, the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.

There is also a profound spiritual side to this prophecy. The shepherds were spiritually in darkness, resulting in them being in the shadows of eternal death due to their sin. When the angels came and declared the good news that the promised Messiah had come as a baby, hope filled their hearts, and the light of the glory of God shone upon them. It was like God had turned his face towards them. (See Numbers 6:25).

They encountered the Promised One, the Messiah, who changed their lives forever. Peace filled the hearts of the shepherds and uncontainable joy flooded their minds, causing them to share what they had seen and heard. 

A Prayer Based on John 1:79

I also saw this passage of scripture as a prayer to pray for our loved ones who are living in spiritual darkness.

Father, I ask you to shine your light on my loved ones who are living in spiritual darkness. Please guide their feet on the path that leads them to the Prince of Peace, Jesus, the one who can pull them out of the shadow of death and bring them into the light of his saving grace.  Amen.

The Praise of the Angels

Here are some reflections about the angels that appeared that night. These thoughts came after reading Psalm 103.31, Psalm 148.2, Deuteronomy 33:3, Psalm 108:4-5, Psalm 89:5-6, Isaiah 6:3, and Revelation 5-6.

The messenger angel was appointed by our heavenly Father to proclaim the good news of the birth of his precious Son, the Holy One, the promised Saviour. What an amazing assignment that was.

A praise and worship party so grand filled the night sky, as the company of angels burst into song and played their instruments with great joy. I imagine all the angels wanted to be part of this once-in-eternity praise party so that they could lift the name of the Lord, and to sing about his love and faithfulness, with the shepherd's as their witnesses. 

OH, how the angels must have rejoiced! The Holy One who sat at the Father's right hand had humbled himself in every way, becoming a baby. In doing this, He was made lower than the angels, so mankind would have a way to receive salvation. (See Hebrews 2:9). The angels only saw this child as the One they had worshipped and adored with reverence and awe, in the spiritual realm from the beginning. 

The angels also knew the newborn Messiah, as the Lord of Hosts, the Commander of the Lord's armies. At His command, they had been deployed many times to do the various tasks set out for them, they had fought many battles and had brought glory to God in the highest and God's will to mankind. 

As the night sky was filled with angels, the Lord's glory was seen and felt. The angels shone with the light of God's glory, having been in His presence night and day, just as Moses' face shone with the Lord's glory after spending 40 days in His presence.  

The humble shepherds were chosen to receive the favour of God to witness this praise party, to see the angels, to hear their heavenly worship, and be brought into the glory of the Lord on the night our Saviour was born.

Glory to God in the Highest 

 As we celebrate Christmas, may the story of the shepherds and the angelic proclamation inspire us to seek the light and peace that only the Prince of Peace can bring. Let the wonder of that holy night fill our hearts with joy, gratitude, and a renewed desire to share the good news with others. 

May you and your loved ones experience the true glory of Christmas—God’s love shining into every darkness, guiding us all into the path of peace. 

Wishing you a blessed and joyful Christmas season!

My Prayer for You 

I ask the Holy Spirit to give you new revelations about the birth of Jesus as you reflect on the reason we celebrate Christmas. May you be filled with joy and the wonder of the season.

May praise and worship overflow from you, as you ponder the greatest gift of all time, the birth of our Saviour. 

May you join in the worship declared in Psalm 108:4-5, For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

May you take every opportunity to share the reason for Christmas with at least one person who is yet to come into the peace that Jesus so readily offers, just as the shepherds did. 

I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen

ETP Blessing Logo and scripture reference

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