Christmas carols
While many Christmas carols sing of the shepherds and angels, including “The First Noel,” another song about shepherds takes its text straight from scripture.
Shepherds
Okay, truth be told, when I think of a Christmas carol about shepherds I immediately go to “The First Noel.” But when I read through the verses I discovered the shepherds are mostly relegated to the first verse. A more comprehensive account of the shepherds’ tale comes from “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks,” but that’s not one at the top of the Christmas carols most of us know list.
The First Noel
The first verse of “The First Noel” narrates the shepherds’ encounter with the angel who tells them of the birth of the Messiah. This well-known carol is probably the most familiar account of the shepherd’s role in the nativity story. It is not however the most complete.
While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks
That honor goes to “While Shepherd’s Watched Their Flocks,” which is pretty much the full account of the scripture passage about the shepherds in song. Here’s the narrative in the King James Version.
Scripture passage
“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.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men.” Luke 2:8-14 KJV
Traditional Christmas carols
Of course when my Bible study came to this part of scripture we thought of all the traditional Christmas carols we remembered:
The First Noel
Silent Night, Holy Night
Angels We Have Heard On High
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
O Come All Ye Faithful
Joy to the World
Shepherds in their routine
One thing I notice as I look at these Bible verses is that the shepherds were at work, in their routine, out in the fields when heaven sent a messenger to tell them of the good news, the joyous news.
Appearance of an angel
The unexpected appearance of an angel startled, even frightened them. Why?
God’s messenger
Were they surprised to hear from heaven because it was unusual or because they didn’t think they were the type to receive a message from one of God’s messengers?
Live in expectation
How do we approach this season? Are we in the middle of our routine, one in which we might unexpectedly encounter the hope of heaven? Do we live in expectation of the joyous news?
As we go about our days in this Advent season, may our hearts be open to hear from heaven.
Beyond The First Noel
Did you know that although the wise men and the shepherds are merged in “The First Noel,” they are not found in the same Gospel account of the birth of Jesus? For insight into their whereabouts, read the missing manger part 1 and 2.
The Christmas story and the missing manger part 1
The Christmas story and the missing manger part 2
Christmas carols in the Scriptures – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel