so how does The Gospel According to Rudolph apply to the shepherds? Well, like Rudolph, the shepherds were misfits also. They were deemed unacceptable by the orthodox people of the day. They lived among the sheep, among the elements, and wandered from pasture to pasture. They were outcasts, yet they found acceptance among one another. They were not cut from the same mold as the rest of society.
Like Rudolph, the shepherds had their “red‑noses” as well. Literally, the shepherds probably had wind‑burned faces, yet the figurative “red‑noses” were more of a distraction to society. They were considered ceremonially unclean, because they could not observe all the Jewish rites of cleanliness. And because of their red‑noses, they probably were called names, like “stinker,” “greaser,” or “trash.” Because of the social system, shepherds were probably sons of shepherds, and their sons would be shepherds also. This cycle perpetuated the fact that they would always be lowly shepherds with not much hope of being found worthy.
Yet like Rudolph, birds of a feather flock together. Misery loves company. Rudolph linked up with Herbie, the errant elf; I’m sure the shepherds found camaraderie among each other. After all, if the only people that you see are each other, at some point, common ground is found. If you spend all your time together related to a task, you create a bond
and finally the shepherds found meaning and acceptance through the message of the angel and their visit to the manger. Rudolph’s life was changed when Santa recognized his gift. The shepherds were given the privilege of being the first to receive publicly the good news of the birth of their Savior. They were also the first to proclaim publicly the good news to their community. The happy ending to the story of the unacceptable shepherds was that they were chosen by God to receive the good news first. And their joy was uncontainable; someone had believed in them. And not just any someone, God had recognized that they too had worth
God chose David, (not littledavid in this story ) and took him from the sheepfolds, from following the sheep, and brought him to feed Gods people....
Psalm 78:70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
71 From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.
72 So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
God fed them with the integrity of His heart, gave to them His wise words ( to keep them safe from the wolves/ deceitful reasoners) who enter the flock not sparing it. One Shepherd gives that feeding...
Ecclesiastes 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Remembering David as that one shepherd, David is that servant to feed the sheep ( Christ over the house of David)..
Ezekiel 34:23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.
Then the shepherds learn they all have one Shepherd, to walk in the judgments and statutes of the Lord with David their King over them..
Ezekiel 37:24 And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.
Jesus speaks of the sheep, as the shepherds knowing there is ONE SHEPHERD, became the sheep, who hear His voice and are old fold together following that ONE SHEPHERD..
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
All sheep know the worth of the ONE SHEPHERD, it is He lays His life down for the sheep, because He lives, we live..
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
Even though Adam tried to smear me as usual, I think he finally wrote a good post. Make no mistake, however, it’s a stand alone post until Adam renounces his other many errors
