Christmas: The Good Tidings in Ephratahs Fields

It was a gladsome advent message which the prophet Isaiah once spoke, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” It was a joyful message for a people sitting in darkness, in bondage and in fear. But how difficult it is to practice that which we read in Habakkuk 2:3, “Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” That is impossible unless the Lord Himself revives them and causes them to trust in His Word, and that in spite of all difficulties and impossibilities. Oh, the nights of trial, of temptation and affliction can be so long, and in those nights the enemy says, “Where is thy God?”

But nevertheless it will be seen, “it will surely come.” That was also the experience in the fields of Ephratah. Although they were poor and despised and of little value in the eyes of the Jews, they were precious in the sight of God. For they were “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people…” Even though they were called out of darkness into His marvelous light, it was dark in their hearts. Many questions arose; many arrows were sent by the arch-enemy of the church, the devil, wounding their hearts; circumstances seemed to be so hopeless.

Although there had been a time when hope had been granted in their souls, looking at themselves they now have forfeited everything. They were not only insignificant and despised in the eyes of the people, but loathsome in their own estimation, and from their side there was no expectation. But one thing these shepherds could not see at all was that the great Good Shepherd was so close to them, lying in the manger— in His deep humiliation. God is a surprising God. As they watched over their flocks in the darkness of the night, there suddenly was an angel, a messenger of the Lord, “and the glory of the Lord shone round about them.”

There they stood in dirty shepherd’s clothing, with unclean hearts, in the glory of the Lord which is round about them. It is no wonder that they were sore afraid, for they knew their sinfulness, their unworthiness, their shame. Who would not then fear before the majesty of a holy God? Oh, it is so often true—they that must be afraid do not fear, but they who fear have no reasons to be afraid! To them the messenger from the heavenly court said, “Fear not!’ How often this is spoken to God’s children because they have needed it! Trembling, they have said, “Woe is me! for I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

In Paradise there was not fear, but only harmony, peace and heavenly joy. By our deep fall we have separated ourselves from God, have lost that peace, and there are many reasons to fear. Oh, happy are they who with a childlike fear, may fear to offend God and to dishonor Him, and who are afraid they must miss His blessed communion and nearness. Happy are they who fear, seeing their unholiness and unworthiness and not knowing how such persons can again dwell with God — that they may yet serve and glorify Him. But then there is that comforting message, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy.”

The angel may evangelize, may proclaim an incomprehensible tiding, may speak of the birth of Immanuel. It is He whose birth was foretold by Isaiah, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulders.” Oh, blessed birth, proclaimed unto those who, with David, have learned to know their own birth, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” They, by discovering light, have seen that they were born under the curse of God as children of wrath and are utterly unable to deliver themselves.

Great joy is proclaimed for those who have great sorrow, who realize their great misery. It is for lost creatures, for people imprisoned, bound by the chains of their sins and held by the cords of iniquity. Here is great joy for hell-worthy ones, for those who are tossed with tempest and not comforted. It is great joy, for here is all goodness, all life, all light, all mercy. Great joy is here, for here is the promised Savior, here is the only comfort for those whose bruise is incurable, whose wound is grievous and who have no healing medicines. Here is the Savior, who is come to seek and to save that which is lost. In Him is satisfaction of God’s justice for the guilty; in Him is condescending mercy for the poor and needy ones.

“Good tidings of great joy…for unto you is born this day a Savior” Oh, that personal application — unto you, poor shepherds. No, it is not a message in general which is brought. He is born unto you who are lost, helpless and hopeless, who have no hands to embrace and no feet to go, but whose heart cries, “Give me Jesus, else I die, for without Him there is no life, but only eternal destruction of soul.” It is unto you who have learned to know yourselves as lying in the midst of death, who have heard the promise of this Child, the Prince of Life, but who could not help yourselves with this promise and became hungry and thirsty after Him and His righteousness.

There is the Bread of Life for your hungry souls; there is the living Water for your thirsty hearts. There is the Pearl of great price for you who are totally unable to pay your debts. There is the Greater David, the Mighty Man, upon whom is laid help for you who sigh and cry in your bondage. Oh, if we are really led by the Spirit of God into Bethlehem and taught by Him, then we will see in Him everything that is suited to us, everything we need. If you see your righteousness as but filthy rags, here is the Lord our righteousness. If, knowing your leprosy and your dreadful wickedness, knowing you need cleansing and purity, knowing that without holiness no man can see the Lord — here is the Holy Child Jesus. He is life for death, light for blind eyes, peace for troubled consciences, purity for those who mourn their defilement, a robe altogether pure.

Oh, what a blessed tiding for an oppressed and ashamed people who fear! There is born unto them a Savior, and He is the promised, the Anointed Servant of the Father. He is the seed of the woman, the Lion out of the tribe of Judah. He was born in Bethlehem to feed, as the Bread of Life, the hungry ones. He is Christ the Lord who teaches you the way you have to go, who makes intercession for you, who delivers, protects and preserves you. He is the Lord who accepted you from eternity out of the hands of the Father, who has purchased you with His own blood, who guides you by His Spirit, and who carries weary sheep as lambs in His bosom and will gently lead them in His ways.

He is the Savior, and only Redeemer, who alone saves and completely saves. He glorifies Himself in ways wherein you lose your own righteousness, wisdom, strength, yes, even your own life, but wherein He will become altogether lovely. Blessed is he whose Lord He is, the sheep whose Shepherd He is. They are sheep brought from the north country, gathered from the coasts of the earth. Surely in the eyes of natural man it is a strange flock, for in that flock are the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together. It is a great company that comes “with weeping and with supplications,” led by the great Good Shepherd, who lies there as a little, weak Child in the manger of Bethlehem.

This good tiding was proclaimed, was heard, but the shepherds also came with haste to see this thing which was come to pass, which the Lord had made known unto them. And then they may behold Him, who is fairer than the children of men. And when they had seen, they made known abroad the things which they had heard and seen. He is the appointed Savior, whose glory they relate to all whom they see there in Bethlehem. They desire that He may be exalted most highly, and that other sinners will also come and bow before Him.

Christmas — “I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Not only unto those shepherds, but soon these tidings will also be heard in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Galilee, and even unto the ends of the earth. He has to be proclaimed as the God-given Redeemer, who is the Light of the world, the only Name given under heaven whereby we must be saved. In Him is all-sufficiency, is suitableness, is power to save the most wicked sinners. No sinner is too old, too evil, too far away, too blind or ignorant, too hard or rebellious, to be saved by Him. He is mighty to deliver and able to save.

Sinners are welcomed by Him and may come to Him freely, just as they are.

But it must be a warning for us, that although this message was brought in the fields of Ephratah, the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem also knew, according to the prophecy, where Christ should be born. King Herod also heard of His birth, but we do not see any coming from far and near to worship at the manger. For such there is no bowing with those poor, despised ones in such a humble place — there is only enmity and indifference.

Why was there not more interest in seeing the newborn King and in admiring God’s precious Gift? It was because this Child had “no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Today there seems to be much more interest and respect, for we can hear His Name in Christmas songs and sermons, while many imagine that they are His followers and that He is also their Savior. Oh, how deceitful is our human heart! How few really bow at the manger with the shepherds as poor, humbled people! These shepherds really became what we all are by our fall in Paradise, namely, lost sinners. In their hearts room was made for Him; they belonged to “those that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Such persons have first heard and believed the sorrowful tidings of their total depravity in Adam, and have learned to bow under the justice of God. Oh, what a wonder if then, in the light of total impossibilities, the good tidings may be heard, “Unto you is born a Savior!”

Christmas—there is a Savior who can deliver lost sinners. Oh, do not despise His Word; do not reject His callings; do not harden your hearts by neglecting such a salvation. For sinners are welcomed by Him and may come to Him freely, just as they are. Do not satisfy yourselves or try to fill the emptiness of your hearts with some romantic Christmas religion without Christ. May the Lord teach us to cry unto Him out of the depths of our unworthiness, to hunger after Him who hath filled the hungry with good things and hath sent the rich empty away.

Dear child of God, may you hasten with the shepherds, and not rest before you know that this Child, proclaimed and revealed unto you, is also given unto you. For then the time will come that you may sing with Simeon, “For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” Then you may find rest for your weary heart in the greater Shiloh. Mourning Naomis may then embrace “Obed,” the Servant of the Father, and have in him all things for body and soul, but also everything whereby God will be glorified.

Rev. C. Vogelaar is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of St. Catharines, Ontario.

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