Advent Day 25: The Shepherds Part 2

Have you ever wondered why it was the shepherds who were the first given the news of the birth of the newborn king? Have you ever wondered why they were the first told to go and see the newborn Babe? Have you ever wondered how they knew exactly where to find Him? They didn't have the benefit of a God's "On-Star" GPS like His next visitors would.

In Micah, it was prophesied that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. But it did not tell us where.....or did it? Buckle up, because we are going for an awesome ride with today's Advent!!

The regions around Bethlehem and the surrounding areas had many fields for pasturing flocks.....BUT there was a very special place on the edge of Bethlehem. The name of this place was called Migdal-Eder. It had a tower, and in ancient times it was used for military purposes. It is mentioned in Genesis as the place where Jacob pitched his tent just after he had buried his beloved wife Rachel. Later it became a place of safety for shepherds from wild beasts and the weather. It also became a safe place for the ewes to give birth. Inside the tower  were roughly constructed stalls and stone feeding troughs. Somewhere along the way, the purpose of Migdal-Eder and its fields took on a very special purpose.

Migdal-Eder and the surrounding fields became the place where lambs were born and raised to be used as sacrificial lambs. They would be used as temple offerings, for the national sin offering at Passover, or for a family needing a Passover lamb. These little lambs were born to be an atonement sacrifice.

The shepherds who pastured their flocks in this region had to be specially trained by Temple priests for this job. They had to know how to inspect and care for these lambs. First the shepherds had to inspect each lamb as it was born to ensure it was without spot or blemish. The lamb had to be as white as snow. Once they had been inspected and found to be without blemish, the shepherd would wrap the lamb in swaddling bands.... swaddling clothes. This would keep the newborn lamb from injury or blemish. 

Luke 2:11-12 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The angel had told the shepherds that the baby was born in Bethlehem. The angel also told them the sign would be the babe would be wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. How could swaddling clothes and a manger be a sign? All the shepherds in the surrounding fields knew of the special purpose of the flocks cared for at Migdal-Eder. They knew of the ancient tower with its feeding troughs, also known as mangers. This was the place known for swaddling clothes being used for newborns. As soon as they heard the angel say this, they would have known where to look.

This all sounds good, but did scripture also give them a clue where to look for the newborn Messiah? Did the Bible really get that specific? Are you ready for this?! Let's look in the same book of the Bible that tells us the King will come out of Bethlehem.

Micah 4:8 "As for you, tower of the flock, Hill of the daughter of Zion, To you it will come-- Even the former dominion will come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

Do you see where it says "tower of the flock"? In Hebrew it is "Migdal-Eder".

The town of Bethlehem is in the background. Migdal Eder is
to the left of the valley on the high hill.

Micah 4:8 As for you, Migdal-Eder, Hill of the daughter of Zion, To you it will come--Even the former dominion will come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

Jesus, our perfect, spotless lamb, born with the express purpose of being our atonement....He  was born in the very place where the lambs were born with the express purpose of being a sacrificial lamb. The shepherds who had been told to go and see the newborn baby Jesus were, unbeknownst to them, literally and symbolically inspecting THE PASSOVER LAMB. Mary had wrapped her newborn in dirty rags, swaddling clothes, to keep her little lamb warm, but in doing so had unknowingly wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, symbolically showing Him to be perfect and without blemish.....just like the little lambs born in the same place.

 While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;  for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,  "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. Luke 2:6-16

Throughout the year, I pray we live our lives with a heart of thankfulness and praise for our REDEEMER. Today, of all days, I pray we really reflect on Who it is we are celebrating...Not just WHO but that we would really celebrate why He was born...why He entered  His own creation as a helpless baby. I pray we celebrate WHAT He did for each and every one of us. He gave us the free gift of Himself. He took every wrong....every sin....upon Himself....out of pure LOVE. He loves us so much. I pray if you have never accepted His free gift that you will not waste another precious moment, but will open your arms and your heart to receive the most perfect, most beautiful gift of ALL eternity.....the gift of God's Only Begotten Son....Christ Jesus.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!