“Shepherds and Angels” | December 4, 2022

I.     “God’s Revelation to Lowly Hearts”
Luke 2:1-7
Luke 2:8-9; 24:4; Ac 12:7; Lk 9:31; Ac 7:55; 2Co 3:18
Genesis 13:2; 26:12; 30:31; 37:2; Ex 3:1; 1Sa 16:11-13
Zechariah 9:14-17a
John 10:11-16
 
II.    “From Great Fear to Great Joy!” 
Luke 2:10-11
Isaiah 6:5; Lk 2:32; Jn 11:50; [Zech 9:9]; Is 9:6; Lk 2:4
Matthew 1:21; Jn 4:42; Ac 2:36; 10:36; [Lk 23:2]; Mt 1:17
2 Samuel 7:8-9, 16
Isaiah 7:13-14; 7:11
 
III.     “The Virgin Birth” 
Luke 2:12-14; 2Sa 7:18-24; 1Sa 2:34; 2Ki 19:29; 2 Ki 20:8-9 Gen 28:12; 32:1-2; 1Ki 22:19; 2 Chronicles 18:18; Ps 103:21
Psalm 148:2; Dan 7:10; Rev 5:11
1Peter 1:10-12; Zech 2:8; Lk 2:14; 19:38; (Ps 148:1; Mat 21:9)
Luke 10:21; Mat 6:10; 28:18; Jn 17:4; Ac 7:49; Eph 3:15
Colossians 1:16, 20; Rev 5:13; Lk 1:79; Ps 85:10; Is 9:6-7
Haggai 2:9; Ac 10:36; Ro 5:1; Eph 2:14-17; (Lk 3:22; 12:32)
Ephesians 1:3-14 (5, 9); Php 2:12-16
Matthew 17:5; 1-5
John 14:6, 25-27
Hebrews 11:6; 1-6; Jn 1:11-13
 
Greek Word Study:
Shepherds: ‘poimen’: a shepherd (literal or figurative) meaning one who generally cares for flocks. Particularly (Lk 2:8, 15, 18, 20) Figuratively of Jesus as the Great Shepherd who watches over and provides for the welfare of the Church, His Flock “Chief Shepherd: ‘Poimano’ (Mt 26:31; Mk 14:27; Jn 10:2, 11, 12, 14, 16; Hb 13:20; 1Pe 2:25)
Keeping watch: ‘phulasso1 phulake2’: to watch, be on guard1 (lit or fig) of persons or things kept in safety, to keep, preserve (Lk 2:8) a guarding2 (concrete: a guard); the act of keeping watch2 (Lk2:8) (Present Active Participle)
Flock: ‘poimne’: contracted from ‘poimano’; a flock (lit or fig); - flock. Noun from ‘poimen, shepherd. A flock of sheep (Lk 2:8) Figuratively, the Flock of Christ, His disciples, the Church (Mt 26:31; Jn 10:16)
Angel: ‘aggelos: from ‘aggello’ (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; (by implication) a pastor; - angel, messenger. Noun meaning messenger, one sent to announce and/or proclaim. An angel, a celestial messenger, a being superior to man. God is represented as surrounded by a host of beings of higher order than man. These He uses as messengers and agents and in promoting the welfare of humans (Mt 1:20; 18:10; Ac 7:30) As to numbers of angels see Hb 12:22; Rev 5:11. (Lk 2:9)
Glory: ‘doxa’: from base of ‘dokeo’; glory (As very apparent) in a wide application (lit or fig, object or subject); - brightness, glory (-ious [ones]), honor, praise. Noun from ‘dokeo’ (to think, recognize) an appearance. In NT, glory, honor: of external appearance: luster, brightness, dazzling light…Spoken especially of the celestial splendor in which God sits enthroned and His Divine Effulgence, Dazzling Majesty, Radiating Glory, as visible to mortals (Lk 2:9; Jn 12:41; see Is 6:1; Ac 7:55)
Filled with Great Fear: ‘phobeo1 phobos2 megas3’: to frighten, i.e. (passive) to be alarmed; be terrified (+be filled with) fear1. ‘phobos2’ from a primary ‘phebomai’ (to flee in fear); alarm or fright2. ‘megas3’: big, fierce, great (-er, -est)  “terribly, terribly , terrified” (Lk 2:9)
Great Joy: ‘megas1 chara2’: Big, great1. ‘chara2” from ‘chairo’ (cheerfulness) i.e. calm delight: - greatly, joyfully, pleasant. Noun from ‘chairo’ to rejoice. Joy, rejoicing. By metonymy, spoken of the cause for or grounds for Joy2 (Lk 2:10; Php 4:1)
A People: ‘laos’: a people. Noun meaning people; a people, nation tribe, i.e. mass of any people and not limited to a community of free citizens; a great part of the population gathered together anywhere. Specifically, of the Jews as the people of God’s choice; figuratively of Christians as God’s Spiritual Israel (from every nation). [God’s Flock taken from all nations] (Lk 2:10; Rev 5:9)
Savior Christ Lord: ‘Soter1 Christos2 Kurios3’: Savior, of Jesus as Messiah1; Christ,  adj. from ‘chrio’ (to anoint), Anointed,  of Jesus: Messiah2; Lord, supreme in authority, of Jesus as Supreme Lord: Messiah3. (Lk 2:11)
Heavenly Host: ‘ouranios1 stratia’: (celestial1) i.e. belonging to or coming from the sky: - heavenly, adj. Celestial1 i.e. dwelling in heaven as the “heavenly host.” ‘stratia2’ feminine of derivative of ‘stratos’ (an army, as encamped); i.e. an army2 i.e. (fig) the angels, the Celestial Luminaries: - host2. “Celestial Army of Angels” (Lk 2:13)
Peace Those Pleased: ‘eirene1 anthropos2 eudokia3’: tranquility arising from reconciliation with God1. ‘anthropos2’ a member of the human race2. ‘eudokia3’: satisfaction, Good Pleasure (will), Gracious (will); Particular delight in any person (God’s favor) from which believing faith is born. [God is pleased with those who, by faith, trust in Christ Jesus, His Messiah, unto Salvation] (Lk 2:14) Salvation of people brings Glory to God in the highest!