The “Shepherds’ Fields” are located approximately one mile outside the city of Bethlehem. For part of the year, these fields produced barley and wheat. After the harvest, shepherds were allowed to use the fields so their sheep could consume any leftovers and, more important, fertilize the fields with their manure to aid the following year’s harvest.

Shepherds were the lowest step on the social ladder and as a result were considered untrustworthy, even dishonest. A shepherd’s testimony was not even valid in legal proceedings. How amazing then that the angels made the announcement of Jesus’s birth to them.

We can only imagine the sights and sounds of this heavenly concert. Can you imagine looking up into the night sky and seeing not just one angel, but a multitude of angels as an angelic choir? What a light show!

Or can you imagine the sound produced as the angels exclaimed in unison, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth among those with whom he is pleased”?

Only the birth of the King of Kings was worthy of such a celestial show. This verse is called the Gloria and has given birth to some of the most beautiful music in recorded human history. As beautiful as this sounded, this scene was only a foretaste of what our heavenly
experience will look like when we join the great multitude in praising God for all eternity. For now, we can practice by spending Advent and Christmas mimicking the heavenly host by praising God for the birth of His son Jesus.