What about those Shepards?

Luke 2:8
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Shepherds would abide with their flock using a cultivated field as their fold for the sheep in the fall of the year. In the late summer and early fall a farmer in Bible times would hire shepherds to keep their flocks in his field overnight. In this way, the sheep's manure would fertilize his field. This is another indicator that Jesus Christ was born in early September. In December it is too cold for shepherds to watch their sheep at night in fields or pastures and too cold for travel to "registrations".

Verse 8 literally reads “And shepherds were in the same region keeping watches by night over their sheep” or “taking turns keeping watch …” The emphatic note here is the reference to the shepherds. The first announcement was made to shepherds—how fitting. The birth of the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd of our souls was first announced to those men whose very work spoke of the person and work of Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God. It was this Lamb who would lay down His life for us, provide for and lead us as His sheep, and then one day reward those men who have been faithful themselves as under-shepherds. The glory of God, for which Israel had long awaited, was not revealed to the priests or the Pharisees, but to shepherds.

Further, there is good evidence these men may have been watching over the temple sheep, sheep designated for sacrifice, which spoke of Jesus Christ and the reason for His coming into the world. Christ took on himself true humanity. He became the babe of the cradle that He might become the man of the cross (Heb. 10:5; 2:14).

Luke 2:9-11
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them , and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

The words "came upon" are translated from the Greek word epeste which means "stood by". The angel was not flying over them. He was standing beside them. Angels in God's Word appear as men. They do not appear with wings. They do not sing. Angels are messengers. They speak God's Word. They "say" what God's wants said.

“And the glory of the Lord shown around them.” “Shown around” is perilampo„ from peri meaning “around” and lampo„ meaning “to shine.” Thus, “to encircle, encompass with light.” They were completely encompassed in light, the light of “the glory of the Lord.” Surely this was nothing less than the shekinah, the brilliant white light of God’s glory, which represented the holiness and presence of God in the Old Testament (cf. Ex. 24:16; Isa. 6:1-3; Rom. 9:4).

Luke 2:12
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

The timing of God is perfect. He gave the shepherds specific instructions so that there could be no mistake. Swaddling clothes were left on a baby for only a very short time. It is doubtful that there were other newborn babies in the small town of Bethlehem and lying in a manger in swaddling clothes. This will place the Shepards at the manger with a few short hours of the actual birth of the Christ child.

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

All of these messengers suddenly appeared with the angel and the shepherds and together delivered the message of God's hope for mankind. The Aramaic text reads "good hope for men". They did not sing it. But I bet it sure made an impression!

Luke 2:15
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

The angels, who had been standing on the ground by the shepherds, went away from them into heaven. The shepherds wasted no time. They said let us go NOW!

Luke 2:16-18
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

The shepherds went quickly to Bethlehem and had enough details to "find" the baby Jesus. And after they had seen the child, they told others. They spoke the Word. The told others that the Christ was born. They told others about the "good hope" for men. Maybe that is why God told them.