Why Shepherds?

Sheep-herding dogs, such as border collies, are highly intelligent and can easily learn 20 to 30 different commands. These are communicated to the dog by voice, whistling, and/or hand signals. A well-trained working sheep dog is very valuable, with some selling for as much as $10,000 or more. Isn’t it interesting that a group of shepherds were the first humans selected to visit Jesus after His birth? But why shepherds? Why not someone more prominent like a priest (there must have been a few good ones), or a governor, or some other ruler?

Many heroes in the Bible were shepherds. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and David all had their flocks. What characteristic did these people all have in common? For one thing, they were all humble.

The shepherds that the angels visited were very humble people. They must have been looking for Him all along, studying the prophecies, praying, and waiting eagerly for their Messiah to arrive.

Jesus says, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Half-hearted looking won’t do. We must search for Him without reserve, and with an open, humble heart.

Key Bible Texts

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15 KJV)