For the fourth Sunday of advent, we once more go to the good Dr. Ryle, this time turning to Luke 2, where Ryle writes several insightful and thought-provoking comments about the visit of the shepherds:
WE read, in these verses, how the birth of the Lord Jesus was first announced to the children of men. The birth of a king’s son is generally made an occasion of public revelling and rejoicing. The announcement of the birth of the Prince of Peace was made privately, at midnight, and without anything of worldly pomp and ostentation.
Let us mark who they were to whom the tidings first came that Christ was born. They were “shepherds abiding in the field near Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” To shepherds—not to priests and rulers,—to shepherds—not to Scribes and Pharisees, an angel appeared, proclaiming, “unto you is born this day a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”Ryle, J. C. 1879. Expository Thoughts on Luke. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
The saying of St. James should come into our mind, as we read these words: “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him.” (James 2:5.) The want of money debars no one from spiritual privileges. The things of God’s kingdom are often hid from the great and noble, and revealed to the poor. The busy labor of the hands need not prevent a man being favored with special communion with God. Moses was keeping sheep,—Gideon was threshing wheat,—Elisha was ploughing, when they were severally honored by direct calls and revelations from God. Let us resist the suggestion of Satan, that religion is not for the working man. The weak of the world are often called before the mighty. The last are often first, and the first last.
Given these wonderful truths, what can we learn from these shepherds? Ryle answers:
Let us mark, ere we leave the passage, the prompt obedience to the heavenly vision displayed by the shepherds. We see in them no doubts, or questionings, or hesitation. Strange and improbable as the tidings might seem, they at once act upon them. They went to Bethlehem in haste. They found everything exactly as it had been told them. Their simple faith received a rich reward. They had the mighty privilege of being the first of all mankind, after Mary and Joseph, who saw with believing eyes the new-born Messiah. They soon returned, “glorifying and praising God” for what they had seen.
Ryle, J. C. 1879. Expository Thoughts on Luke. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.
May our spirit be like theirs! May we ever believe implicitly, act promptly, and wait for nothing, when the path of duty is clear! So doing, we shall have a reward like that of the shepherds. The journey that is began in faith, will generally end in praise.
