Advent Day 8: Shepherd Boy

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/17599701 w=600&h=400]There is time travel in this song. There is time travel between the story of David being anointed by Samuel and the shepherds going to see the new born baby Jesus. Now, I want to make it clear that I am not trying to ignore the biblical accounts of each story nor am I trying to re-write the two stories because I like my way better.As I sat down to write this song, I was talking it through with my good friend Matt Graham. As we looked over the biblical accounts we started to see some striking parallels between 1 Sam 16 and Luke 2. Obviously, there is a strong biblical connection between David and Jesus, but it is a parallel often times forgotten when looking at the Nativity account. So after thinking about it more, Matt made the suggestion of involving time travel, and the rest of the song was written.There are a few points I want to make about understanding this song properly.1. The main purpose of this song is to make a theological point that Christ's birth theologically precedes the anointing of David and that David's reign was meant to support and serve the reign of Christ.2. The story of the shepherd boy in verse 1 and verse 2 is supposed to be read and understood realistically and then re-read symbolically after verse 3 and 4.3. The broken staff the shepherd boy presents to Jesus is supposed to not only represent the brokenness of our own hearts, but also the broken kingdom that springs out of David's lineage.4. The end of verse 4 is supposed to remind us that the whole story, as do all stories point to the saving blood of the Christ.Ultimately, I want to challenge you with this song to not only think of the nativity story historically, but to also think of it theologically. I've put the lyrics to the song below. If you have any suggestions complaints or questions, I would love to talk about them with you.Shepherd Boy Verse 1: I am a poor, shepherd boyI live alone in this here fieldI have no friends, I have no toysThis broken staff’s my sword and shieldThey came one night when I’s asleepThe sky filled up with light and soundI stood up scared, but not afraidThen fell face first onto the groundPre-C:They said, “Son, please don’t cryIt’s for Good News that we have comeFor today you are a slaveBut tonight you’ll be a sonSo run….Chorus:To find a baby in a lonely mangerShining like a star in this dark placeThis child came to be my brotherTo give the poor a hope, a friend, a faceVerse 2I had no gift, I ran for milesTo find a town that shared my nameI looked for hours and found a caveFilled with the poor, the weak, the lamePre-C:And I said, “Sir, I came to seeThe baby born to set man freeI don’t have much to pay him forThe gift he gave to you and meBut I did run….Chorus:To find this baby wrapped up in a mangerThis broken staff’s all I can giveI know you’ll use this to bring us to your pastureTo shepherd us as long as we might liveVerse 3The prophet came to Jesse’s homeHe looked in vain at seven sonsThe town was scared, and so afraidTo learn the prophet had to comePre-CAnd he said, “Man, there must be moreMaybe a son out in the fieldAnd they said, “Sure, the shepherd boy,But he’s too weak to hold a shieldBut he said, “Run…ChorusTo find this shepherd, thought to be a strangerChosen as a star in Israel’s skyOur Father wants to save His kingdomThrough the ruddy boy with pretty eyesVerse 4When I came back, my father calledTo meet a man who came from GodI shook his hand, he touched my browAnd killed a calf with saving blood