Journal of the Wondrous Night

Yesterday and today, I got to write a journal as if I was a shepherd boy the night that Jesus was born! It was interesting! Read the real story in Luke 2. (NOTES: {1} indicates footnote. 1581 words in the story) By the way, I used the Jewish calendar when making this. The dates are in late June.

-------------------Tammuz 4-------------------

Yesterday I was sitting. Sitting, and wishing I was already there. But, there I was, listening to Rabbi Eli reading (in that musical way of his) the Nevi'im{1}. His voice rose and fell as he read, “Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? … He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. … All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.{2}” Who, I wondered? Who was despised and rejected? Was it the thieves—the bandits that roamed across the hills of Judea? Who was the “man of sorrows”? I will probably never find out.

After the service, we all went back home to a cold lunch Mother and sister Rachel prepared the day before. Then we sat in the light filtering in through the doorway and windows, listening to the birds outside in the tree. Father and I took turns quoting from the Talmud and Torah and singing songs from the Tehillim (Psalms). The day passed (slowly, though), and we went to bed.

This morning, I awoke to bird songs and the tinkling of a passing donkey. As I groggily sat up, I remembered what day it was—the day I was to travel to the sheep herd! Mother was up and around, preparing breakfast. Beside me, David stirred in his sleep and then woke with a jerk when the water pot Rachel was carrying thumped to the ground just outside the door. Rolling up my mat and placing it in the corner, I went outside to see what Father was doing. He was looking over the donkey to make sure that it was ready for the journey I was going to start on after breakfast.

I was impatient to get started, and breakfast seemed to drag by. After we had eaten, Mother packed my script with some cakes and fish for the journey, filled a goatskin with water, and I was ready to go!

“You'll be alright, won't you?” her sombre voice jolted me to attention.

“Far as I know, why?” I questioned, looking into her worried face.

“Abel (that's my older brother) just got back from the market, and said that a band of merchants reported seeing robbers in the hills. Are you sure you'll be safe all alone up there?”

“Oh yes! You know I've got my sling, Mother!” I cried, “I'll be okay. If you wanted to, you can send John (our hired servant) with me. The merchants were probably just lying hypocrites, anyway.”

“I suppose you are right.” She sighed, and glanced over to the stables. “Looks like Father has the donkey ready.”

So that's how my journey started—Mother worrying about me. I walked out the gate and down the road, leading the donkey behind me. He was carrying little—a sack of grain to grind into flour once I got to where the other shepherds were, my bedroll, a few loaves of bread to give to my brothers that were there, and my harp.

There were flocks of sheep on either side of the road, and I listened to the floating calls of ewes to their lambs as I walked. I saw a family out in the field, tending the growing wheat. As I walked closer to the hills, there were more trees, and the shade was a welcome relief. I rested beside a stream from the heights for midday meal, then pressed onward.

Just about the time I was getting tired, I found my brother Saul with our flock of sheep. I had crossed the hills without trouble! He pointed to their tent, and I unloaded the donkey and led it to the creek for a drink. Then I hobbled him. After I took care of the donkey, I went back to the tents where the evening meal was almost ready. Now here I am, watching the moon rise, sitting between my two brothers. It's been a good day, and I'm tired!

-------------------Tammuz 5-------------------

I fell asleep last night just as soon as I laid down on my bed. The stars twinkling above us were not dimmed by clouds. It was beautiful!

About midnight, a light—bright as the sun—brought us all to our feet. We stared at the strange being hanging there, halfway between earth and sky. I was so scared that I could hardly speak. I was able to croak out, “Abner—is it the end of the world?” He looked at me, his eyes full of fear. “I don't know.”

The being began talking. “Fear not!” His voice, like the sound of many waters, sounded against the hills behind us, and bounced back in a thunderous sound. Then he continued, “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. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”

The light from him was almost blinding, and I fell to my knees. Who was this person? Why was he here? Suddenly, the voice stopped. Silence had almost overtaken the echoes, when I heard the sweetest sound on earth. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” I looked up, and saw angels—a whole sky full of them! By this time, my brothers couldn't stand more. They fell on their faces in fear. I listened, enthralled, as the chorus continued—the sky was lit up as if it was day! Then, as suddenly as they had come, they were gone.

I scrambled to my feet, and looked dazedly around at my brothers who were looking up, astonished. “Did you hear him?” Abner clambered to his feet, and gazed at the glittering sky. “Did you HEAR him?” he repeated, his voice filled with awe. “He said that 'Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord'! I'm going to see Him!” Saul stood, and brushed off a few twigs that clung to his cloak. “Me too.”

They bounded down the path leading to the city, and I hastened to catch up. I didn't want to miss anything!

We got through the city gates without trouble, and stopped in the marketplace to talk. “He said that we would find him in a manger, wrapped in swaddling robes.” Saul quietly reminded Abner.

“Yes, that's right. I remember that there's a stable behind the inn just down the street. Let's start there! That's the only place I can think of where a manger would be!” Abner grinned and started off down the street at a fast trot. We ran to catch up, and arrived panting at the stable doors. A light shone through a crack in the wall, and Abner put a finger over his lips. “Shh. I think this is the place!” His excitement showed on his face, and he knocked on the door.

“Come in!” a gruff voice answered his knock. A man appeared in the doorway, and beckoned us in.

“We ah, we came to see—to see the Savior,” Abner finished lamely.

“Come right in!” He smiled, and led the way to where a young woman lay on the straw. Beside her, nestled in the manger, lay a baby.

“This—this is the one?” Saul questioned.

The man nodded, “Yes.” Reverently, we all fell to our knees. This was the one! This was Messiah! The long-awaited King of Israel!

After a little bit, we left to share the good tidings. “Messiah is HERE!”

What an exciting day!

-------------------Tammuz 6-------------------

I had a hard time going back to sleep last night. After getting back from town in the wee hours, I wrote in my diary. Then I slept (at least, tried to sleep!) until the sheep began waking at dawn. Oh, how exciting life is!

I was to stay here for several months, learning all about how to handle the sheep so that I can do it once my brothers get married. But Saul and Abner sent me back home today—with the donkey, of course—to spread the news there. Mother was glad to see me home—she seems to have missed me—I don't know why! After I told her what I had heard, she called Father, and I re-told the story. They believed me, especially because of the note Abner sent with me. They knew I was not faking. Father called the neighbors, and now we're having a regular feast! It's amazing what one little bit of news can do! I'd better go, though, because they want me to tell the story again. Adieu!


FOOTNOTES:
{1}The Nevi'im is the name the Jews give for the books of the Prophets. This includes: “Former Prophets--Yehoshua/Joshua, Shoftim/Judges, Shmuel/Samuel, and M'lakhim/Kings--and the Nevi'im Acharonim [or Major Prophets]--Yeshauyahu/Isaiah, Yirmeyahu/Jeremiah, Yechezkel/Ezekiel, and Trei Asar (the Twelve minor prophets--Hoshea, Yoel, Amos, Ovadyah, Yonah, Micah, Nachum, Chabakuk, Tzefanyah, Chagai, Zecharyah, and Malachi)” (Information Credit)

{2}Quote from Isaiah 53:1, 3, and 6