The Shepherd Song — Carter Conlon

The Shepherd Song from Luke 2

I'd like to speak to you this morning a message that the Lord's put on my heart called the shepherd song. From Luke chapter 2 if you'll go there, please in the New Testament, then we pray together while you're finding that Luke chapter 2 the shepherd song father.

I thank you God with all my heart Lord that you are speaking to your church in this last hour of time. I Thank you for the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I thank you God. That I don't have to stand in my own strength, I don't have to preach from my own reasoning Lord.

God that give you praise and glory that you see fit to touch such a frail vessel and God to give me your word that I may bring something of substance to your people. Feed your sheep Lord feed your flock today.

Oh God. Let grace and glory come into the hearts of your people. Let there be a shout of praise God when there's only been heaviness. You say in your word Lord that you take the spirit of heaviness and you replace it with a garment of praise.

I'm asking you to do that today Lord. I'm asking God that not a single person in the annex any any overflow room in this sanctuary leave this house. With hands heavy and hearts heavy. I ask Oh God that your word do.

What your word has always been sent to do your word says that you send your word and you bring healing. Bring healing Lord to the wounded heart. Bring healing God to the blinded eyes. Bring healing Lord to those are captivated by the situations of the hour.

We're living in Lord open our eyes open heaven Lord to us today. Show us something deeper farther Lord than our circumstance. God help me Lord. Help me to be able to speak this help me God to be able to touch something of your heart that you've revealed to me Lord, I thank you for this Lord that we're not interested in hearing sermons.

We've got to hear from you. Now. We have to hear from heaven Lord. This has got to be from your heart. I thank you Lord for the ability to convey this in Jesus mighty name the Shepherd song. Luke chapter 2.

Jesus’ Birth and the Shepherds’ Song

Beginning at verse 1. And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed and this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city and Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea Under the city of David which is called Bethlehem because he was of the house and lineage of David to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife being great with child and.

So it was that while they were there the days were accomplished that she should be delivered and She brought forth her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger. Because there was no room for them in the inn and there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field Keeping watch over their flock by night and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone Round about them and they were sore afraid.

The angel said unto them fear not for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy Which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord this shall be assigned to you.

You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a Multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace goodwill toward men.

And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them into heaven the shepherds said one to another Let us go now even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass Which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the babe lying in a manger and when they had seen it They made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart and the shepherds returned Glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was Told unto them the shepherds song.

Roman Taxation and the Burden on the Poor

Now verse 1 it says it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus That all the world should be taxed and you thought New Jersey and New York were the first ones that came up with this idea.

The days of Roman rule were marked by heavy taxation of all they conquered territories and Countries that they conquered they would love me very strict and quite often very severe taxation upon these people according to Zondervan's encyclopedia.

Here are the taxes that the Romans? instituted. They had a land tax real estate taxes a poll tax export and import taxes crop taxes income tax taxes for the to use a road taxes to enter certain towns taxes on animals and vehicles assault tax a sales tax a servant tax taxes on the transfer of property and even an emergency tax.

They would have had easy pass on donkeys had it been possible in that time. Over the taxation of the people that were conquered was placed a man called a Roman censor. This particular official of Rome would come in to places like Galilee and Israel for example, and they would Sell franchises which were a five-year contract to the highest bidder.

Who would be responsible for collecting the taxes in a specific district or a specific area? The tax collector in the case of Israel, of course the tax collectors were quite often Jewish people who were considered traitors.

He remembers that case when he when Christ came to his house how he had cheated the people and Said if I've cheated any man and there should really be no if in his statement He had undoubtedly cheated people, but he said I'll restore it fourfold.

Matthew was a tax collector. The who wrote the Gospel of Matthew and The tax collector was given a quota and he was allowed to collect an open-ended Commission for himself so quite often they were bribed by the rich.

The rich would comment say look, I'll give you X amount of Currency if you will exempt me from paying certain taxes. And so tax collectors got very very wealthy in their society and they were very very hated.

They took a lot of bribes and much of the revenue from the poor and that's who really were taxed the most is the poor and Went to support an opulent lifestyle in Rome and it was given to Roman citizens many of whom Thought at that season that it was beneath their dignity to work for a living.

And Luke chapter 2 verse 1 tells us that even while all this is going on Caesar Augustus Decided when it says that all the world should be taxed. It's really not a good translation of that word. It really means a census in case in other words.

I'm missing somebody there might be somebody out there in My kingdom. Caesar said that is escaping taxation. So what we will do is we will cause a census to be taken now the way This was done in Israel is that the records would were kept of your family and the place you were born but they were all kept in your hometown and So a decree went out and the decree said that everybody has to go back to their hometown So that they can be recorded.

Who is your father? Where was your family? And of course ultimately the bottom line is how what do you work and how much money do you make? And how much tax should you be paying and in order to conduct this?

Census people were forced to leave their homes. They lost income from employment it was a great personal hardship and there were no exceptions if for example Mary was very close to the time to be to go into labor to have her first child and.

But that made no difference she had to get on the back of a donkey and as I see it in the map of the Life and times of Christ that I had in preparing this message. It appears the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem was somewhere between 50 and 60 miles.

So it's a long and an arduous journey, especially on the donkey and can you imagine being in Mary's position where days away really from going into labor and Taking this this long and arduous journey now people are forced to leave their homes.

People are losing income from employment. They're put into a place of great personal hardship. Loss and even danger because there was always the danger that some harm was going to come. There were robbers along the many of these routes.

All because of the greed and the lack of caring of others. I can't help but think of the parallel to our society today so many are being forced from their homes and We're just starting to touch the tip of the iceberg of where this is going to go folks.

And how difficult it's going to get for so many how many will lose their jobs? How many will have to pay this extra the emergency tax and tax burden that will come on society all all because of the greed of Some who cared more for themselves than they do for the betterment of the entire country.

Can you imagine the conversations along the way as a whole society is brought into upheaval because of the greed of a few? You imagine the anger? The the discontent that's being voiced the grumbling the complaining the when is this all going to end and Is this how we're destined to live.

Are we are we going to be kicked around from pillar to post? Losing employment. Losing homes. Being brought into Jeopardy. Just just to pay. For a few who feel it's their exclusive right to tax the entire population.

Fear, Vulnerability, and the Neglected

I see a society hurriedly. Passing by. Can you see this on the road now Mary and Joseph now Joseph obviously is Taking his time think of what you would do. How would they travel there? There's there's obviously a haste in the society for everybody is is on this journey trying to get to a place of safety.

Trying to find somewhere. That's comfortable somewhere where there's food on the table. Somewhere where there's some kind of security and I can see the people just literally passing literally in the fast lane passing Joseph and Mary who are Obviously going very slow because Joseph knew she was close to going into labor and he couldn't obviously over extend this trip because of the implications and I can see all these people passing them by so they can be first to get to a place of security with a good meal.

And a and a warm bed and folks. It's quite often the most vulnerable that are left behind when fear grips a society. When everybody starts running for shelter when everybody starts looking for some kind of a safe haven.

It's most often the vulnerable the weak the slow. I'm not talking about mentally. So I'm talking about physically slow that are left behind. Now keep in mind that these are God's people of that particular season now, they've been taught from the Old Testament scriptures.

They know what the Bible says, for example, Isaiah in Chapter 58 up for time's sake. Let me just read it to you verses 6 to 11. Is this not the fast that I've chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness to undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free and that you break every yoke.

Is it not to do your bread to the hungry and you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked that you cover him and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh now, they know this.

God's people of that time have been schooled in this just like you and I have they know the scriptures. They've heard it read in their synagogues very very frequently. They've sat around their own family tables they've studied these things and Listen to the promises they had from God.

He says then your light will break forth as the morning. Then your health will spring forth speedily and your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your reward. Or You will be literally scooped up or Garrett.

What it means you'll be gathered up by the glory of the Lord and the glory is the weight of God. It's the evidence of God. It's it's that weightiness of the life of God will literally scoop you up. God says if you will do these things I'll come behind you and I'll gather you in my hand as it is and I will infuse life and strength into you.

And He says in verse 9 then you will call and the Lord will answer you'll cry and he'll say here I am if you take away from the midst of you the yoke. The putting forth of the finger and speaking vanity or empty talk.

In other words God says if you simply do this and don't just talk about it. If you really do reach out to those that have nobody to help them and and stop putting out a finger and looking for somebody else to blame as it as almost an excuse to do nothing because There's something in the heart that says well This is somebody else's fault an empty talk.

And if you draw out your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul He says then your light will rise in obscurity and your darkness would be as the noonday God said then you're gonna shine as a beacon on a hill.

Then people are going to look and say wait a minute now in the midst of a whole society going this way and Obsessed as it is with its own provision and protection there are there's a people going the other way and they're gathering the poor and they're helping those that have no helper and There will be the society in a sense whether or not they participate will at least have to stop and take notice That there's somebody in it of another spirit Going in another direction and he says your light will rise in obscurity and even the darkest time You'll have to face will be to you as noonday.

The Sun in other words will always be shining. You'll always have health. You'll always I'm talking spiritual health now. You'll always know which way to go. You'll always have a path before you you there will be an obvious health come to you into your life.

And in verse 11, he says then the Lord will guide you continually and Satisfy your soul and drought and make fat your bones and you will be like a watered garden and like a spring of water. Whose waters fail not now keep in mind Israel knows this they've been taught this from the Old Testament.

Nobody is a stranger to this just like right now. Neither are you and neither am I. I've just read to you this scripture, which is the Word of God. So we're no longer strangers to these truths. Now we can choose to be strangers to them by simply ignoring it by simply putting it away by simply saying well.

Is anybody else got another opinion in the Bible? I'd like to see if there's any other revelation from my life and so we can put that part of the scripture away. Can you hear the conversation in the dining room now?

God at the Door of Human Self-Sufficiency

Apparently this in in Bethlehem from what I read at least was it quite a famous place? It was not just an in it was the in in Bethlehem. It's where a lot of travelers and commercial travelers in particular on their way into Egypt would stop and stay and it was a known place and so you can see that everybody who's of the lineage of David in Bethlehem is is Rushing down the highway to get there.

I've got to be the first to get there and you know that that's exactly the way humanity is. If there was some kind of a crisis and even in this city and it was no longer Allowable to go to our homes and there would be a mad exodus to get the best hotel rooms in The finest and safest places and that's exactly what human nature is like and so all these people rush to this hotel.

Can you hear the conversation in the dining room and beside the fireplace in the Bethlehem Inn? Can you hear the grumbling about the inconvenience? Can you hear the complaining about the greed of a few?

Can you can you just you have to be able to hear it because they are like we are. There's there's that same thread in all of humanity and then ultimately the question comes. Somebody will have the courage to say what everybody is thinking and that question is where is God in all of this?

How how how could God let this happen. Isn't amazing that the whole society ignores God until tragedy comes that everybody blames God for the tragedy it's Curious to say in the least where is God in all of this and you can you can hear this this inner Frustration with God Himself Rising in the hearts of so many people.

Why is God allowing this to happen? As if it's God's ultimate mandate to keep us all just happy and safe and You can see this conversation going on when suddenly there's a quiet knock at the door. Just a quiet knock you see God is at the door.

Where is God and suddenly there's a knock at the door. Revelation chapter 3 and verse 20 the Lord says behold I stand at the door and knock. This is a people in the last book of the New Testament who had gathered to themselves What they thought to be sufficient goods to get through life and to get through whatever difficulty they might be facing in life.

Only to find that outside the door is God knocking again. Saying you you think you have what you need, but there's something deeper that you need and you can see this innkeeper perhaps going to the door and saying and People saying well, who is it out there?

Well, it's it's just a young couple and it's a it's a lady. She's in labor and the people saying well, I'm sorry. You know, there's no more room here. I mean This place is full and certainly and and this is we don't want this here the inconvenience.

It's going to cause us. Sorry, there's no room in the end. Isaiah chapter 53 Says it this way in verse 1 to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Who gets to know the power of God? He says in verse 2 when we see him, there's no beauty that we should desire him.

I'm thinking of that in in Bethlehem. There's there's absolutely nothing outside that door than anybody who's self-focused wants anything to do with. There's just a young couple and she's in labor and you can hear the way they write it off.

Well, they probably brought this mess on themselves. You know, they shouldn't be out traveling. They should have stopped back maybe 10 miles ago and everybody has a reason why they don't have to do anything.

Humanity will always Exempt itself of the very not only the mandate but the blessing of God is gone. And so here's God at the door. This is not just a couple with a Woman in labor. This is God at the door folks.

You have to realize this. This is God in the flesh. About to be birthed into the world knocking at the door, but everyone is too busy. Too busy complaining about taxes too busy Looking about how they're going to survive too busy trying to scheme how they're going to get out of the census and I can just Hear the plans that are going on about how to evade this whole thing and how to Get vengeance and get even and everything else that's going on.

So who gets to see the power of the Lord work to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Who gets to know this glory spoken about in Isaiah who gets to walk in this? In Luke chapter 2 in verse 8 says there were in the same country Shepherds abiding in the field and keeping watch over their flock by night.

Faithful Shepherds in the Darkness

By night the folks I'm telling you something there is a Great revelation of God coming in this generation, but not where we think it should come. There are pastors in this country and in other places who have toiled in obscurity.

They have been faithful. They've gone to the prayer closet. They brought the Word of God to the people. The people may not be overly interested. But they brought the Word of God to their congregations.

They've had a compassionate heart and they have cared for these little flocks that God has given them. And the Lord says I can't get in to the masses. I can't get into those who have sat in the synagogue.

I can't get into those who've been taught but have chosen to ignore what they've learned. And so he goes in a place where people are outside of it. All just a faithful group of shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night.

And when you think of night, it speaks of a time of darkness. It speaks of a time of danger. It speaks of a time of death. It was at midnight that the angel of death passed over the Egyptian Society before delivering Israel out of it.

It was at night that when Paul on that ship they were in a storm that they began to Search for the depth of how close they were to land and began to fear for Their safety and hope for the day. And here are shepherds.

These are just pastors. These are Christian workers. They're given to prayer they possess the heart of God to get The people entrusted to their care through this night and into the safety of daylight.

It's a single mother who's kneeling beside her bed in intercession for her little flock of children. That the Lord has given to her. It's the man whose heart is turning back in this congregation. And in this time saying it's not right that these weak and fatherless children in our streets should be left behind on this journey.

It's a concerned person who stops in this mad rush for personal safety to look up. And look for and help those who are having a hard time to keep up. I have been given a word from the Lord today that is prophetic for this generation and Prophetic for you are sitting here today and you fit in one of these categories.

You're simply a person who's concerned about others in this entire mad blind rush that we're just Beginning on of a society trying to protect and ensure its own future. This is a word for the person sitting here today that says I'm going to stop in this and I'm going to help other people.

I'm gonna give them a word from God. I'm gonna help those that are weak. I'm gonna pick up those that are fallen. I'm gonna feed those that have nobody to care for them. I'm gonna give something of clothing to those who are stranded on this journey.

I'm just going to obey God. It's as simple as that. You may not even feel anything in your heart, but you just simply make a decision. I'm going to do this. I See what God says in Isaiah. I see what he said in Luke chapter 4.

I'm just going to be what God has called me to be as a Christian person. I'm just gonna stop. I'm not joining the mad rush of self-preservation. I'm just gonna stop and whatever that costs me. That's what it will cost me.

But I'm just gonna stop and I'm gonna do something. I'm not going to be the Levite that passes by the wounded men. I'm not gonna be the Pharisee that passes by on my way to study scripture on my way to sing songs in church.

I'm gonna be the Samaritan who stops and does something about it in this generation. And here's the promise the Lord gave me to give you in Luke chapter 2 and verse 9. It says and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them and they were so Afraid and the angel said to them fear not behold I bring you good tidings of great joy.

Which shall be to all people for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior. Which is Christ the Lord folks suddenly suddenly heaven opens. Suddenly everything makes sense. Suddenly you see the end from the beginning.

Suddenly, you know why you're a Christian why you go to church why we sing songs why we read our Bible? Why the Holy Spirit is given to us? Where we are where we're going and why we're even left in this earth after coming to Christ as our Savior.

Suddenly it all makes sense. And suddenly there's a joy that comes with it God Almighty. I'm now sharing your heart for people. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have Everlasting life.

The Son of God did not come into the world to condemn the world. But that the world through him might be saved praise be to God suddenly suddenly suddenly suddenly. I'm. The heavens begin to open and everything begins to make sense.

God’s Presence in the Midst of Crisis

Where is God in all of this, where is he's where he's always been. He's standing at the right hand of the poor according to what I read in the Old Testament. It's where he's always been he's reaching out to the oppressed.

He's healing the bruised and hard. He's putting the key in the prison doors and helping people to get out into safety. He's giving bread to those who are without he's being a father to the fatherless.

He's got the children sitting on his knee and he's blessing them. That's where God is in the midst of all of this. And that's where God's people are in the midst of crisis. It's in crisis where you really find out who the people of God are.

Jesus said at midnight all of a sudden there was a cry behold the bridegroom and suddenly suddenly suddenly. There were people who found out they thought they had a relationship with God and they suddenly found out that what they had was empty.

Bankrupt religion that couldn't show anybody how to get home in a time of darkness and could not point to the bridegroom. Isaiah the Prophet says Fearfulness has surprised the hypocrites and the word hypocrite really means actors.

It's people who have played a part in the body of Christ, but they've never ever embraced the heart of God. They've just played the game. They've sung the songs they've done the things that they've learned to do, but they've never ever embraced the heart of Jesus Christ and Sudden fear comes to them.

There is no fear to the righteous. The righteous are as bold as a lion. That's what I read in the scriptures. If you are afraid of the coming day, something's not quite right in your heart. I'll say that without apology today.

There ought to be no fear. David said though the mountains be cast down though the seas begin to roar. David had a heart that was fixed on God. He knew where he was going. He knew who he was in God, and he was not afraid of the coming days.

Praise be to God. Oh, I'm not saying that we don't have a measure of trepidation. I'm not saying that you and I don't have to fight the thoughts of What shall I eat and where will I live and with what will I be clothed?

We wouldn't be Regular normal human beings if we didn't have to go fight these thoughts. But what I'm suggesting to you is that Overriding these things is a deep-set confidence in God in those who do belong to him.

That though it all goes though. It all fails though. It all falls. God is going to be my keeper. God is going to give me light for my path. God is going to cause even my darkest day to shine as the noonday Sun.

I'll not be among those that are wringing their hands and fearful and afraid in the coming days. I'm gonna allow these hands by the grace of God to be opened to people who are failing and falling all around.

I'm going to ask God to put in my heart words that can give comfort to those who need to be comforted in the midst of the fearfulness that will grip and Is gripping all of the society around us? I'm not suggesting we don't have to battle these things.

But I am saying that those who are Christ will overcome these. There's an overcoming Trust in God in the heart and I praise God for that with everything that's in my heart. I have been there folks. I have come home from preaching a crusade to have everything I've owned in the basement.

My house literally didn't burn down it burned in there was nothing left. I've been in a place where I've had nothing I've stepped out to you know on a winter day to jog on a country road and I said these words to God.

I don't even have a toothbrush to brush my teeth with but I'll tell you what I do have. Matthew 633 Says seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things Shall be added to you.

I have walked through this fire. I've gone through this flood. I've watched God provide. I've Never been without the Lord's been faithful. I've seen him do the miraculous. I've watched God supernaturally move All through my life and all it does in your heart is Produce this ever-deepening desire to see this multiplied in others not just in ourselves But in others.

God help your people to know that you're a supernatural. God help them to know that you do provide if our priorities are Right if we are we are fixed as it is on the work of God if we are trusting in the power of God.

To accomplish this work you have never failed and you will never fail to your people. David will never have to retract the scripture when he wrote. I've been young now. I'm old. I've never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging for bread.

David will never have to apologize for his confidence in God when we get to heaven praise be to God bless the Lord. Luke 2 tells us that suddenly heaven opens around them and verse 12. Verse 13 rather verse 12 says this will be a sign to you.

You'll find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. Lying in a manger. In other words, you will find this living God in a humble place. Where the self-focused and proud have never thought to go. Nobody from the end would go there folks.

He had to go to shepherds. Just people out in the field who were just being faithful. Amazing and they they went where nobody else would go. They went where there was human need. They would have known when we get there.

These people are going to perhaps need something. Well, we don't have much but what we do have will give them even if it's just a word of encouragement even if all they could do is walk in and say. You'll never know you'll never guess what God just spoke to us about you and about this child.

If that's all they had at least they went to this place of need and they brought that which God had given to them. In verse 13 says suddenly there was with the angel of multitude of the heavenly host.

Praising God and saying glory to God in the highest and on earth peace. Goodwill towards men. In other words your ears and heart will be open to the worship of heaven. There's a worship far beyond anything we sing in this church folks.

It's far deeper. There's your ears are finally open to something that is sovereign. It's it comes from heaven alone. It's a song that's deeper than words folks. I don't know how else to explain it this.

It's the song of trust in God. It's the song when you and I are reaching on and we're seeing God provide in impossible places. There's something of God comes into this spirit. It's a song of confidence and trust that people can see.

David said it's not a song they hear they see it. You and I walking through the midst of the same storm as everyone else around us. But we are able like Paul to stand on the deck of this perishing ship and saying be of good cheer.

I have been with God and God has spoken to me. Yes, the ship will be lost. But everyone who listens to what God's put on my heart will be saved. Your your life will be saved it will be spared. There's a song of praise as Paul takes the bread and breaks it and says here take eat here you eat.

Let's padding people on the back and encouraging people. There's a our lives are not Something we just sing on Sunday our lives become a song of praise to God a song of trust in God. That's why David said he's put a new song in my heart.

Many will see it and fear and trust in the Lord. Thanks be to God. I used to wonder when I first read that how do you see a song? I thought we heard a song. How do you see a song? Praise God. It's it's it's a living expression of trust in God.

The Shepherds’ Song of Trust

Bless God. Thank you. God. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. Verse 14 says glory to God in the highest and on earth peace. Goodwill towards men. In other words the divine purpose of God. The depths and compassion of his love will be made known to you.

Glory to God in the highest on earth peace. Goodwill that means God's goodwill. That means the hour of redemption is here. That means there's hope for the future. That means it's not all about the here and now it's about something that God wants to do now and extend into the hereafter.

Goodwill towards men in verse 20. It says the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they'd heard and seen as It was told unto them. Yours will not be a song that's based on the circumstances of this world.

It will be a song that I call the shepherds, huh? Glorifying and praising God for the things they had heard and seen as It was told to them. Things that are hidden in the end. The people in the end know nothing about this.

But they had seen and heard something from God and they went back to the mountainside they went back to the dew of the night they went back to what they were called to do and They worshipped. I can see this Procession of shepherds.

I see I hear something in my spirit. I see a procession of shepherds. I See something coming into the heart of the single mother. I hear a song That's going to stir your kids. I see something coming into the hearts of fathers That are going to turn back To this generation and say I'm not.