‘While Shepherds Watched’ is a popular Christmas carol, enjoyed by many in the lead-up to Christmas. We’ve dissected the verses in this ‘Song Surgery’ (as we like to call it) and shown where the words or themes have come from the Bible!
Read the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20 in the Bible.
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
All seated on the ground
An angel of the Lord came down
And glory shone around
Shepherds were ordinary, working-class people, and God chose to tell them the good news first. He chooses people that are powerless to shame the powerful.
1 Corinthians 1:27–28
“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”
Matthew 20:16
“So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”
“Fear not,” said he for mighty dread
Had seized their troubled mind
There’s no need to be afraid, as God’s plan was to save and be with his people. He lovingly reached down to us.
John 3:17
“God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”
Hebrews 9:27-28
“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”
It echoes the words that Jesus said when John saw him in all his terrifying, beautiful glory.
Revelation 1:17-18
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.'”
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring
To you and all mankind”
Great joy! This is the best news in all of history!
Matthew 1:21
“And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
“To you, in David’s town, this day
Is born of David’s line”
A 700-year-old prophecy said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
Micah 5:2
“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are only a small village among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel,
whose origins are in the distant past,
will come from you on my behalf.”
It was promised — long ago — that Jesus would come from King David’s royal line.
Hosea 3:5
“But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness.”
Isaiah 11:1
“Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.”
Jeremiah 33:15
“In those days and at that time
I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line.
He will do what is just and right throughout the land.”
Ezekiel 37:24
“My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd. They will obey my regulations and be careful to keep my decrees.”
“A Saviour, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign”
Not a warrior to free people from Roman oppression, as many were expecting — but God himself, who came to free them from sin.
Colossians 1:19-20
“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”
“The heavenly babe you there shall find
To human view displayed,
All simply wrapped in swaddling clothes
And in a manger laid”
The creator of the universe as a fragile, human baby.
Philippians 2:7-8
“Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”
Thus spoke the seraph and forthwith
Appeared a shining throng
Of angels praising God, who thus
Addressed their joyful song
Angels are God’s messengers, who were made to serve and praise him.
Psalm 103:21
“Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will!”
They look on with wonder at the gift he offers us!
1 Peter 1:10-12
“This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.
They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.”
“All glory be to God on high,
And to the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heaven to men
Begin and never cease”
Jesus is the ‘Prince of Peace’!
Isaiah 9:6
“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
We can know this peace if we look to the cross and trust him for our eternal future.
Isaiah 53:5
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
John 16:33
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
