Everywhere, sheep graze peacefully as two shepherd dogs roam among them. One is a loyal, seasoned dog that has long protected the flock; the other, a young puppy, has only recently begun to learn the art of herding. Most of the shepherd dogs are Canaan dogs, which take about three years to reach full maturity. Unlike other breeds, they are gentle, patient, and highly vigilant, making them ideal for protecting sheep in Judea. In fact, the older dog once fought off a wild beast, suffering a severe injury but still managing to protect the flock.
The two dogs move about, stopping occasionally before heading to another spot. It seems the older dog is teaching the younger one, passing on its accumulated knowledge as a shepherd. The older dog looks serious, as if determined to pass on all its experience. They are heading to a place where newborn lambs, still unsteady on their legs, are walking around their mothers. The shepherd dogs watch over them protectively, allowing the young lambs to enjoy their first taste of freedom without danger.
Watching the sheep and dogs, the shepherd sighs. If he had been with his daughter and grandson that day, he might have been able to save him... After Joseph and Mary suddenly left for Egypt, he returned to his flock after breakfast with his wife, unaware of the impending tragedy. He was grateful that the Messiah had overcome a great danger and was having a pleasant day when he heard the news that afternoon: soldiers were killing infants in Bethlehem and nearby villages. He immediately left his flock and rushed to his daughter's house, but his grandson was already cold and lifeless, with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law wailing beside him. The soldiers had attacked the house while everyone was away, and his daughter had tried to stop them but was no match for the strong soldiers.
Initially, he was filled with anger toward King Herod and his soldiers. He couldn't understand how they could issue an order to kill innocent babies and actually carry it out. All he wanted was to kill them. Even he, who usually accepted things as the natural order of life, felt an overwhelming desire for revenge at that moment. As he went through hellish times, other families were also living through their own personal hells.
His wife became despondent after the event, often sitting in a daze. Whenever she regained her senses, she would go to her daughter's house, but her daughter refused to see her. His daughter stopped eating and cried all day. Even when his wife forced her way in, his daughter wouldn't turn her head, leaving his wife in greater despair. His son-in-law tried to find a solution by joining a group of discontented shepherds led by a man named Athronges. Athronges and his four brothers were strong and tall, attracting many followers, but they were rumored to be cruel, making him worry that his son-in-law might take a wrong path.
His eldest daughter and son-in-law in Jerusalem were also deeply affected and sought to address the situation by more political means. His son-in-law, who was well-educated, went to the top interpreters of the law in Jerusalem, Judas and Mattathias, to report the incident. They told him that Herod would soon face God's judgment and suggested waiting until the time was right to act together. This prediction came true a few months later.
After the New Year and the arrival of spring, rumors spread in Jerusalem that Herod had died. On the day of a lunar eclipse, Judas and Mattathias rallied many young men and rushed to the temple, pulling down a golden eagle statue Herod had dedicated. However, the rumor of Herod's death was false, and soon soldiers arrived, causing many to flee. The leaders, Judas and Mattathias, along with 40 others, including his son-in-law, were captured. During Herod's interrogation, they said they acted to correct Herod's violations of the law, telling him to do as he pleased. In a trial in Jericho, Judas and Mattathias were burned alive, while the 40 others, including his son-in-law, were released. This incident led to the replacement of Mattathias ben Theophilus with Joazar ben Boethus as high priest.
Despite these events, Herod maintained his power but eventually died, seemingly as a judgment from God. His final days were miserable, with rumors of ulcers in his intestines, gangrene in his feet, and worms in his private parts. He had difficulty breathing when sitting still and suffered convulsions and a foul odor from his body. His condition improved slightly after bathing in the hot springs east of the Jordan River, but it worsened again when he returned to his palace in Jericho. Herod became increasingly violent, acting like a madman. He ordered that all prominent figures in Judea be imprisoned in the Jericho stadium, intending to have them killed on his death so that all Judeans would mourn on the day of his passing. Herod forced his sister and brother-in-law to swear to keep his words, and up until that point, both replied that they would keep the oath.
Herod even attempted suicide, leading to a rumor that he had died, which caused sounds of mourning to reach the prison. His eldest son, Antipater, asked to be released, believing he would now be king, but the guard reported this to Herod, who immediately had Antipater executed. Thus, those who had killed others for power began to meet their own ends.
Next, it was King Herod's turn. King Herod died exactly five days after executing his son. In the meantime, he seemed to have sensed his own death and revised his will. He left Judea, Samaria, and Idumea to Archelaus, his son by his sixth wife; Galilee and Peraea to his brother Antipas; Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, and Paneas to Philip, his son by his seventh wife Cleopatra; and Ammia, Ashdod, and Phasaelis to his sister Salome. Thus, with King Herod's death, it seemed as though the evil of the Herodian dynasty had been judged by God. However, they committed even greater sins afterward. Fortunately, the order to kill all the prominent figures of Judea was not carried out, but three thousand Jews were killed due to Archelaus. Of course, the Jews also had their share of blame in this incident.
After Herod's death, people made various demands to Archelaus, including not paying taxes on goods. Archelaus prioritized gaining favor with the Jews and accepted all their demands. However, people continued to mourn for Judas and Mattathias and criticized Herod, which led to unrest and eventually a rebellion. Archelaus tried to calm the situation but failed, and as the Passover approached, the situation escalated into a full-blown uprising. The leaders incited people to attack soldiers, resulting in Archelaus deploying his army and killing three thousand people as an example.
While both sides were at fault, Archelaus revealed his true nature through this incident. The evil of those who crossed boundaries was judged through him, but he too will face God's judgment someday. God does not let the wicked go unpunished.
Afterward, Archelaus headed to Rome with many others, and the Herodian family's assets are being managed by the Roman army. However, this management seems to be nothing more than another form of exploitation. Rumor has it that Sabinus, who recently arrived in Jerusalem, has ordered a list of the royal family's assets to be compiled. As a result, it is difficult to predict how the situation in Judea will unfold in the future. There is also a sense of foreboding that a difficult time, similar to the rebellion of Antigonus, may be approaching for everyone. It is an era in which people claim to be righteous while committing evil deeds without hesitation.
In this chaotic situation, what is the point of raising sheep? Even if someone raises flawless sheep for God, would He be pleased with sacrifices offered by such people? The words of Isaiah come to mind:
“What are the multitude of your sacrifices to me? I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed animals. I don’t delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of male goats. When you come to appear before me, who has required this at your hand, to trample my courts? Bring no more vain offerings. Incense is an abomination to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations: I can’t bear with evil assemblies. My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you. Yes, when you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Judge the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
Whenever I heard these words, I often thought about how troubled God's heart must have been. For the same reason, I wonder how God feels as He looks at our current era. What message does God want to convey about this age? There must be a reason He sent the Messiah at this time.
I am reminded of the Messiah and His family, who were kind people that didn't seem to cause harm to anyone. There was a time when I blamed them for my grandson's death. I can't say I never felt that way. If they had not come to Bethlehem, my grandson would not have died. Of course, at that time, I blamed not just them, but God and everyone else as well. Who could have avoided such blame? Yet, as I look at the era unfolding before us, it now seems that perhaps it was better my grandson died so quickly. Rather than living in an evil age, being tainted by the evil world, and leading an evil life, it might be better from God's perspective to die without committing sin.
Even if Abel died at a young age, murdered by his brother Cain, his life was not in vain or meaningless. He was recognized as righteous before God through faith, so after his death, eternal life in heaven, as the Pharisees speak of, would have awaited him. If my grandson was innocent in God's eyes, I hope that, based on the covenant given through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God would take him to heaven. Then, the life of that child would not have been meaningless.
The shepherd's face begins to relax as he finds meaning in his suffering through these words. Finding meaning in hardship turns despair into hope. He believes in God's goodness, having experienced it throughout his life—from being sold as a slave as a child, his grandfather's death, his marriage, and his life as a shepherd. God was always with him, teaching him through people and events.
God never left me. He revealed His love through death and true forgiveness. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, He was nurturing me with people and events, just as He guided Moses in the wilderness.
I turn my head and see people harvesting barley. I think about Ruth, who must have walked these fields long ago. I imagine her meeting Boaz, falling in love, and eventually marrying him. That meeting came after so much loss—a small moment of hope after despair. Naomi had lost her husband and both sons, and she returned to Bethlehem with her daughter-in-law Ruth, a Moabite woman. The two women were nearly starving, but God did not let them die.
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.”
It was through God’s gracious command that Boaz and Ruth met, and from their union came King David. And now, from David’s line, the Messiah has come. I wonder when God’s great plan truly began. Maybe it started when Moses received the law, or when Jacob prophesied to Judah, or even when Abraham was told he would be a source of blessing. Or perhaps it all began when Adam left the Garden of Eden. Only God truly knows the full scope of His plan.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.”
God said, “I am Yahweh.” Yes, God is the Lord. The Lord is always right. He was a shepherd who felt deeply ashamed for having doubted and blamed God, even if only for a moment. He closed his eyes and prayed for repentance.
The seeds of God's word have been sown in him. Like grains growing in the barren land of Judea, his life has been filled with hardships, but through his journey and the word, he has come to understand the greatest trials and discovered a new mission: to explain God's will to those who refuse comfort and to offer them solace.
God has given nature to all people equally—the sun and the rain are poured out on both the good and the sinner. I see the flowers in the field wither quickly, but they always bloom again. Winter passes, and spring arrives without fail. I realize that storms in life are unavoidable for anyone. What really matters is how I can understand God’s will through these hardships. Death feels meaningless only when I can find no meaning in it. But if someone dies as a righteous person, what greater blessing could there be? For the righteous, God’s kingdom is waiting after death. So, why should I mourn for those who get to be with God sooner than others?
The shepherd lifted his head and gazed at the sky. There, like God who always watched over him, was the blue sky, steadfast and unchanging. Now that he understood God's heart, what was there to hesitate about? He would preach God to his family, who had refused comfort, just like Rachel. God is truly righteous.
“Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work will be rewarded. They will come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, and your children will come again to their own territory.”
The passage from Leviticus 19:9-10, 18, Isaiah 1:11-17, Jeremiah 31:16–17 quoted in this narrative is taken directly from the World English Bible (WEB) translation.
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