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(The Shepherds’ Response)
When Faith Moves Your Feet
After the glorious celebration of Christ’s birth, we zoom in on the first people to respond – the shepherds. These weren’t religious leaders or wealthy wise men. They were working-class nobodies. And yet, they ran.
The Biblical Foundation
Luke 2:8-20 tells the story:
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”
Luke 2:16 – they hurried off. They didn’t debate, didn’t form a committee, didn’t wait for permission. They ran.
The Baroque Energy
“Without Hesitation” is an energetic baroque oratorio with urgent celebration. The tenor soloist sings rapid passages about the shepherds’ response, and the SATB choir comes in with fugue-style counterpoint singing “they ran” – voices chasing each other just like the shepherds chased after Jesus!
Baroque trumpet fanfares punctuate the urgency. The harpsichord and strings move at a brisk tempo. Everything about the music says: THIS CAN’T WAIT!
Writing This Piece
The lyrics capture both the moment and the application:
“In fields of night, a holy sound
Angels broke through, glory came down
They didn’t question, didn’t wait
Left everything at heaven’s gate”
The chorus repeats “they ran” to emphasize the immediacy: “They ran to find Him, they ran to see
The promise wrapped in mystery
No fear could stop them, no doubt could stay
They ran to worship, they ran to obey”
The bridge makes it personal: “When heaven calls, we don’t delay
We leave behind, we run His way
No holding back, no second thought
We give Him everything we’ve got”
The Theology
James 1:22 commands, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
The shepherds heard the announcement and immediately acted. They’re the model for genuine faith – hearing and responding, believing and moving.
Matthew 4:19-20 shows Jesus’ disciples doing the same: “‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.”
Hebrews 11:8 commends Abraham for this same quality: “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
Why This Matters Today
How often do we hesitate when God calls? How often do we overthink, overanalyze, wait for the “perfect time”?
The shepherds teach us that obedience delayed is obedience denied. When heaven speaks, we run. When we encounter Jesus, we don’t hold back.
2 Corinthians 6:2 declares, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”
My Application
As I was writing these songs, there were moments I hesitated. “Can I really create a baroque oratorio? Isn’t that presumptuous?” But then I’d remember the shepherds – they didn’t ask if they were qualified. They just went.
Sometimes faith means running toward what God has called you to do, even when it feels beyond your ability.
What is God calling you to run toward today? Don’t hesitate. Go.
