Arizona republican., 1907-12-30

There IS mois to perplex and over !
whelm than the outbreaking of heav-
ems light and music. But thank God
the blessed sign remains. the same
clear. simple. personal appeal. babe
I'm the manger your savior Christ the
Lord. The child. the wayfarer. the be-
wildered soul can get hold of that fact,
yet ONLY b.. faith.
II was a wav OF faith that led the
shepherds 10 Bethlehem, although the
sign .-as So distinct VIXEN the light
faded and the gloria ceased. how black
and stu Il was around the shepherds,
The angels were gone. They left the
slow witted men 10 stare into one an
others saces. Cold reason would new
er have counseled them to leave their
restless sheep. Common sense had not
kept them trudging through the dark.
to si-d a new born babe in Bethlehem
The only explanation Is. their hearts
leaped forth IN faith, and they came
with haste and found From the be-
ginning the gospel calls for faith.
Brother. the angels finer points the
way. Seek ard ye shall find
T. But perhaps the main reason why
the good tidings were announced TO
shepherds first was that the babe they
I were to fi-d was to be shepherd too.
When tho wise men from the east ter
rified King HerOd with their quest
for the rev born King Of the Jews. he
appealed 70 his o:y- wise men 10 learn
/ the birth place % the coming Messiah.
/ The prophecy which they promptly
quoted declared that ont Of Bethlehem
shall come forth a governor. which
shall be shepherd Of my people. Israel.
That was the well known and accepted
/ text that resignated the Messiah to
the Jews. They We're to have shep-
herd This figure was dear to the
prophets. II was dear to Christ He
uses many names BIZ which to describe
himself to men-the bread. the door.
/ the wa. the vine. but he dwells with
| special fOndness on the imagery of the
! shepherd And we need only To study
this imagery as il was understood in
the east. to find great comfort in il. Be
meath the burning skies and the clear
starry nights Of Palestine. there grows
up between the shepherd and his flock
a -.nion % attachment and tenderness
It is the country where at any moment
sheep are likely TO be swept away by
some mountain torrent. or carried off
BY Hin robbers or torn b. wolves.
They are often saved by the personal
hazard Of their protector. David tells
US Row - defense of his fathers flock
he slew lion and bear. Every hour
Of the shepherds life is risk. He
must endure Ditiless showers. driving
SHOWS long hours OF thirst if the flock
is 10 he kept at al. For this reason
there grows up between the man and
the dumb creatures a kind Of friend
ship. But Christ's own words declare.
III am the good shepherd" Not a hire
ling who will flee from the coming Of
danger. leaving the the sheep TO de-
lstruction. Thank Cod he is the good
shepherd who gives his life for the
sheep.
Il was fitting then that his coming
into the fold should be made known
TO shepherds first. for what was char
acteristic of their life was to be true
of his The words which told their
business told his-seeking. finding.
calling. leading, keeping, saving.
The glory faded from the heavens
The angels disappeared The shep-
herds left the manger and its child
The old life of toll was resumed. But
evermOre it had a new meaning. and
how eminentl- true Of al who find
Christ. From the heart they sing that
beautiful son. Life Wears a Different
Face to Me Since | Found Ny Savior.
As We watch the shepherds return to
their waiting sheep we can almost hear
them sing. He shall feed his flock
like = shepherd"
The iov % Christmas is not in ra-
dent SKY. nor IN the passing voice OF
angels nor in the rush of churchly hal
Ieluiahs. but in each Of us so finding
for ourselves the Savior who has come
to earth, that we can say as we &c
labout our daily talks of life. The Lord
is m=-ssheoherd. | shall not want