All intelligence of the things of God comes from His revelation, and not from the reasonings of men. Hence, the simple go farther in spiritual understanding than the wise and prudent of the earth. God acts here so as to set aside all appearance of human wisdom. Happy is he who has so seized the intention of God as to be identified with it, and to want none but God! This was the case with the shepherds. They little entered into the great intention of God, but it was to them, and not to the prudent, that God revealed Himself. Our true wisdom is through what God reveals, but we never get God's fullest blessings till we are where the flesh is brought down—I speak as regards walk. We cannot get into the simple joy and power of God till we accept the place of lowliness and humiliation, till the heart is emptied of what is contrary to the lowliness of Christ. These shepherds were in the quiet fulfillment of their humble duty, and that is the place of blessing. Whoever is keeping on terms with the world is not walking with God. From the manger to the cross, all in Christ was simple obedience. How unlike this perfect example was Theudas, who boasted himself to be somebody! Christ did all in God's way, and we must learn to as well.
The glory of the Lord shone round about the shepherds; the angel spoke to them; the sign was given, and what a sign! "Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God." What called forth this burst of praise? "The mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh." The hope of Israel was revealed to them; they heard the glad tidings of great
joy to all the people, for Jesus is the pivot of all God's counsels in grace. Adam himself was only a type of Him who was to come. Christ was ever in the mind of God. Such displays of glory are not shown to mortal eyes every day, but God sets them before us in His Word, and we must every day follow the given sign, the Lord Jesus. If He filled the eye, the ear, the heart, how we should see the effects in person, spirit, conversation, dress, house, use of money, etc.
Such then is the sign of God's accomplishment of promise, and of His presence in the world—a Babe in a manger. But God is found there, though these things are beyond man, who cannot walk with God, nor understand His moral glory. But God's sign is within the reach of faith; it is the token of perfect weakness, a little infant born into this world who was the very CHRIST THE LORD; such is the place God chose—the low degree. God's intervention is recognized by a sign like this; man would not have sought that. The heavenly host, praising God, said, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward [in] men." Nothing could be higher or more astonishing (except the cross) for those who have the mind of heaven. The choir above sees God manifested in flesh, and praises God in the highest. They rejoice that His delights are with the sons of men (see Pro. 8:3131Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:31)). Of old, God had displayed Himself to Moses in a flame of fire without consuming the bush, and here He shows Himself still more marvelously, in the feeblest thing on earth. This is an infinite thought morally, though despicable in the eyes of the world. How hard it is to receive that God works through man's weakness! The rulers of the people saw in Peter and John unlearned and ignorant men. Paul's weakness at Corinth was the trial of his friends, the taunt of his enemies, the boast of himself. The Lord's strength is made perfect in weakness. The thorn in the flesh made Paul despised, and he thought it would be better if that were gone. He had need of the lesson, "My grace is sufficient for thee." It is God's rule of action to choose the weak things. Everything must rest on God's power, otherwise God's work cannot be done according to His mind. One can hardly believe that one must be feeble to do the work of God, but Christ "was crucified through weakness," and, "the weakness of God is stronger than men" (2 Cor. 13:44For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. (2 Corinthians 13:4); 1 Cor. 1:2525Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:25)). For the work of God we must be weak, "that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Cor. 4:77But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7). That work will last when all the earth shall be moved away.