Years ago Orel Hershiser, a stellar pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, appeared on The Tonight Show, then hosted by the late Johnny Carson. The host asked Hershiser about a moment during the World Series when he was shown in the dugout with his head leaning back, singing.

“What were you doing?” asked Carson. The pitcher responded, “I sing to remain calm.” “What were you singing? Would you sing it for us?” asked the host. At that, Hershiser reluctantly, but without embarrassment, sang: “Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Carson was speechless, and the audience fell silent. A doxology is an appropriate response to God for his marvelous interaction in our world and in our lives. In Luke 2:8-20, the nativity story unfolds with the announcement of the birth of the Christ, and in the 20th verse the shepherds raise a doxology (which is the original language for the translation “glorifying”).

I wonder why God delivered the news of Christ’s birth first to shepherds. Historically, shepherds were neither influential nor wealthy; their network was pretty much relegated to a flock of sheep whose communication was primarily in the form of bleating. Shepherds would be in the open pasture for long stretches of time, so they were not necessarily the cleanest of people and may well have been socially awkward since they had little interaction with other humans. They may not have even qualified to offer a sacrificial lamb over which they gave oversight (according to the ceremonial hand washing imposed by the Pharisees). Who would have thought that a host of angels would make an earth-changing announcement to such a small and insignificant group?

Identification
So, why did God choose shepherds as the first audience? Perhaps because God identifies with shepherds. He talks of them several times in the Old Testament, most notably in Ezekiel 34 where shepherds are condemned for taking care of only themselves and not the flock of Israel. He called two prominent leaders in Israel from the ranks of shepherds (Moses and David). He illustrates seeking lost souls with the story of a shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine to find one stray lamb (Luke 15:3-7). Jesus refers to himself as the “good shepherd” (John 10:11, 15), and just before his ascension he called Peter to be a shepherd (John 21:17, “Feed my sheep”).

Servanthood
Many have speculated it was because of the shepherds’ low position that God endorsed them. But could it be they possessed understanding others did not? Could it be they understood sacrifice better than most, since they regularly placed themselves in harm’s way for the sake of their charges? Or that they knew the rarity and beauty of a perfect lamb and God wanted them to be the first to meet his perfect lamb?

Maybe they were the best to receive the news first because they understood leadership was a responsibility to serve, not a position of status. The very One who would declare the last would be first and the least are the greatest, looked to earth and saw that the shepherds were servants. He identified with them, because he was a servant too (Philippians 2:7).

Response
Maybe God considered the shepherds’ “qualifications.” Or maybe, instead, God was looking for a response.

The shepherds’ reaction after encountering the Christ was to return, “glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard” (Luke 2:20)—literally, they gave a doxology. Their response to seeing a baby in a manager was more than an observation, it was the culmination of everything “they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:20). The events that unfolded before them were miracles, celestial appearances, and prophecy fulfilled, which demanded an appropriate response.

He has also promised to come to us and to be with us always. Like shepherds in a field we look for a Savior, and he has come. This divine act—“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)—requires a response that calls for nothing less than a glorious doxology.