The Shepherds’ Joy in Bethlehem
Who has believed our true report?
The Lord alone can tell
But Doctor Luke wrote down our words
About “Immanuel.”
Out in the dark, we watched our sheep
(for wolves are sure to lurk
when ewes are giving birth alone)
So shepherds watch and work
Then late one night the angel came
And we were filled with fear
For that dark night then flamed with light!
A vision bright and clear
The glory of the Lord we saw!
We trembled at the sight
But what the angel said to us
Filled us with joy that night
“Great joy! Good news for every man
For unto you is born
A Savior who is Christ the Lord
With glory now adorned
In David’s city, see His sign
There in a manger laid
The baby tightly wrapped in cloth
For you He is displayed”
Then all the sky with angels filled
Adoring God Most High
“All praise to God with peace, good will”
We heard the angels cry
We ran to Bethlehem to find
That stable and that sign
And we found Him! And we praised God
With one heart and one mind
But who believed our true report?
Not many, but a few
Some laughed and scorned, but others watched
To see what God would do
Our rabbi frowned when first he heard
But wisely searched his scrolls
To see if there was any truth
Behind the tale we told
And Bethlehem was in the Book!
In Micah, hopes increase
The King! Yes! Born in Bethlehem
“This man shall be the peace.”
For many months, we talked of this
About Messiah’s fame
And not much happened ‘til that day
Those eastern wise men came.
Jerusalem was troubled then!
King Herod in a rage!
He heard about our Jewish king
And asked about His age
And then his brutal soldiers came.
They killed our babies there.
Our little town was torn apart
With grief and great despair.
For thirty years we grieved for them
We thought our king had died
And every year on the dark day
The mothers mourned and cried
When we heard that name, “Jesus” then
We thought about that day
We thought about our little king
With grief and great dismay
We heard about His kingly words
His miracles, His signs
The way He taught our people there
About God’s great designs
To save His people from their sin
Eternal life! Be born again
In spirit and in truth to pray
And hope again for God’s great day
But our own leaders turned on Him
— Then soldiers came again —
And nailed Him on a Roman cross
Who gave so much to men
Our own dark day in Bethlehem
Was painful in our mind
But now with Jesus’ death we thought
His light no longer shined
But then we heard such news for men
He, who died, rose again!
And preachers taught us that this king
Was born in Bethlehem!
by Gordon A. Dickson 12/23/15