On one level it is that familiar and well-loved story. Shepherds were in the fields among smelly and not-so-bright sheep. They had no power or influence. They had nothing to bring the baby King. However, the glory and the random beauty of the Christmas story is that God chooses the lowest members of society to entrust the greatest truth of all ages.

Peering in the darkness—suddenly—an angel stands before them, and the glory of the Lord surrounds them with blazing light. Seized with alarm, the shepherds are struck with fear.

The angel reassures them, “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Saviour—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:10-12 NLT).

God’s word tells us that the shepherds were terrified by the appearance of the angel and that the people of Bethlehem were amazed by the tales they later told. You can easily imagine why. Of all the things people expected that morning, Shepherds singing praises and announcing the coming of the Messiah was probably not high on the list.

After they had seen the baby, they “spread the word” concerning what they knew. They weren’t like so many of us in our sophisticated world, worried about what others thought of them. They didn’t overthink the situation and talk themselves out of telling the news. They were exuberant, overflowing with joy and probably still reflected a bit of the glory of being with Jesus.

I love the fact that God is His infinite wisdom chose just the right group of people to entrust the greatest news of eternity. Those humble men took the Good News of Jesus, and did just what God wanted them to do – told others, and their lives were never the same.

‘While Shepherds Watched’ was written by Nahum Tate. Nahum was born in Dublin, Ireland and was the son of a Priest. He moved to England and became an accomplished poet and was appointed as the national Poet Laureate of England by King William III. He wrote not only as a poet but as a playwright, and many of his works were produced onstage. Nahum is buried in St Paul’s Cathedral. Sadly, his life didn’t finish well as he died as an alcoholic, and in poverty.

However, in 1700, Nicholas Brady who was an Anglican Vicar and part-time poet collaborated with Nahum on a new edition of hymns, some of which focused on the birth of Jesus. Initially, their revisions met with widespread resistance, but gradually the hymns gained acceptance.

This ‘new’ edition of hymns included a new carol, “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks.” Based on Luke 2:8 Their message was simple, and the story was told in a memorable way:

“While shepherds watched their flocks by night,

all seated on the ground,

the angel of the Lord came down,

and glory shone around.”

The shepherds were not religiously polished scribes, they were not socially connected men of influence, they were not wealthy merchants, and unlike the wise men they did not come with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These ‘night shift’ workers lived under the stars with only the clothes on their backs, a staff to guide the sheep, and a rod for protection. What God wanted most is the one thing they had to offer ‘to tell others what they had seen’?

I’m challenged by that, and I share that challenge with you today. This Christmas season, will you share your story? Someone needs to hear what Jesus has done for you.

Someone, everyone, needs to know Jesus was born for them, too.

Questions.

What is your favourite Christmas Carol?
Do you find it easier to ‘tell others’ about Jesus and share your faith at Christmas time?
Who are the ‘shepherds’ in your communities today, who need to know the love of Jesus?

As well as being a Faith in Later Life Trustee, Andrew Wileman is the Assistant Director for Older People’s Services at The Salvation Army. This blog is part of Three Advent Stories shared with Faith in later Life from Andrew’s book ‘Songs of the Faith‘. 

Read the other stories here:

Three Advent Stories: O Holy Night
Three Advent Stories: Good King Wenceslas.

The carol we know today was written in 1853 by John Mason Neale to a traditional folk tune and was written in the town of East Grinstead, in West Sussex, at Sackville College where he was staying at the time.

It turns out that Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia (now the western portion of the Czech Republic). His grandfather and father had turned from paganism to Christianity. His mother, however, was the daughter of a pagan tribal chief. When Wenceslas was 13, his father died, and his mother, having embraced paganism once more, tried to turn him away from his faith in Christ.

But when Wenceslas was 18, he gained the throne, had his mother exiled, and sought to reign over his people with mercy and justice as a truly Christian monarch. He is best known for his acts of kindness.

The carol is based on a story set during a feast day shortly after Christmas. King Wenceslas is not feasting; instead, he looks out the window onto the wintry landscape and discovers a poor man, gathering whatever meagre firewood he can find in the deep snow. Wenceslas leaves his comfortable home and goes with the page into the cold night to deliver the gifts personally. The story goes that at one point, the snow becomes so deep and the wind so fierce that the page wonders if he can carry on. But Wenceslas invites him to walk in his footsteps, and as he does, the page finds strength to endure. Together they brave the storm and fill the poor man’s humble home with generous gifts.

King Wenceslas was beloved by his people. However, at the age of 28, Wenceslas was assassinated on his way to church by his jealous brother, but his influence lived on. He was considered a martyr, and today is the patron saint of the Czech state.

I think the message of this well-known Carol is interesting for us today. For a start this Carol is a rarity, as I can’t think of another carol about an actual person (outside of those in the Christmas narrative) and I think it is also the only carol with an overt social justice message. The end of verse 5 is a timely message.

“Therefore, Christian men be sure,

wealth or rank possessing.

ye who now will bless the poor;

shall yourselves find blessing.”

We all joyfully accept the invitation to generous giving that comes with the Christmas season. But sometimes meaningful giving, the kind that really makes a difference, requires sacrifice, and that can be difficult. When this happens, we can find strength as we walk in the steps of the Master Giver.

“Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matthew 20:27).

In my preparation for today the very Good King Wenceslas reminded me of the kindness and generosity of another king, one who also chose to be a servant, who lived among the poor and the weary so that he could give them relief.

This is the king whose birth and life of service we celebrate at Christmas.

Questions.

Who in modern times would be the subject of a carol or song like this?
What intentional acts of kindness can you show this Christmas?
What do you think are the blessings of service to the poor and marginalised?

As well as being a Faith in Later Life Trustee, Andrew Wileman is the Assistant Director for Older People’s Services at The Salvation Army. This blog is part of Three Advent Stories shared with Faith in later Life from Andrew’s book ‘Songs of the Faith‘. 

Read the other stories here:

Three Advent Stories:  O Holy Night

Three Advent Stories: While Shepherds Watched

That same year, Placide’s friend Adolphe-Charles Adam wrote accompanying music for the carol, and it debuted on Christmas Eve. The magnificent carol quickly spread throughout France, but in its infancy, the song faced some challenges. Word got around about its authors. Written by a drinking socialist, and a Jewish musical composer, Church leaders were unhappy with its origins and integrity. Thus, the song was banned throughout the church in France. One French bishop denounced it saying that it “lacked musical taste and was totally absent of the spirit of religion.”.

However, the people wisely ignored that ban and continued to sing it. The spirit of the song, even though it had been declared lacking, had sunk deep into the hearts of the people and “Oh Holy Night” lived on within them, being sung in houses and during local gatherings. until its beautiful music and words started to be heard outside of France.

The English version of “O Holy Night” developed when American writer John Sullivan Dwight discovered it. A dedicated abolitionist, John was moved by the carol’s reminder that Jesus came to bring justice:

“Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.”

In 1871, the story is told that on Christmas Eve during the Franco-Prussian War, a French soldier ran out of his trench unarmed and began to sing this carol. Silence fell across the battlefield, and when he was finished, a German soldier came out and sang a favourite German carol. A Christmas ceasefire followed.

This carol has the distinction of being the first song ever to be played live on a radio broadcast in the USA. On December 24, 1906, a Canadian inventor, Reginald Fessenden, broadcast one of the first ever AM radio programs, and the first ever to feature music for a general audience. He went to play “O Holy Night” on his violin, singing the last verse as he played. He finished the broadcast by reading various passages from the Gospel of Luke, before wishing his listeners a Merry Christmas.

The songwriter Placide Chappele has captured the response that has moved millions with its message of hope over the years.

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.”

I love that phrase that sums up the hope we have in Jesus. The phrase is, “the soul felt its worth.” I fear that there are many people, even some of us reading this today, who miss this part of the message. Not only do we have the hope that Jesus acknowledges and brings light to a weary world, but we are now given a purpose. You matter. You have immense worth in the eyes of your Lord and Saviour.

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).

What an incredible journey this song has had. Written by a faithless man who was shown a glimpse of glory, composed by someone of Jewish faith, banned by the French Church, sung by American abolitionists, it brought armies together for a ceasefire in the trenches over Christmas, and part of the first radio broadcast in the world.

It’s not just a song, but a beacon of hope for any and all who will listen.

Question:

What does the origins of this Carol teach us about how Jesus uses the extraordinary for his purposes?
If you close you eyes and think about this beautiful carol, what thoughts and images come to mind?
Can you feel the hope running through this carol?  What do you need hope for today?

As well as being a Faith in Later Life Trustee, Andrew Wileman is the Assistant Director for Older People’s Services at The Salvation Army. This blog is part of Three Advent Stories shared with Faith in later Life from Andrew’s book ‘Songs of the Faith’. 

Read the other stories here:

Three Advent Stories: While Shepherds Watched

Three Advent Stories: Good King Wenceslas.