VeggieTales - While By My Sheep Lyrics + Chords

While By My Sheep Video

While By My Sheep Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

The song "While By My Sheep," performed by VeggieTales, is a joyful portrayal of the message delivered by angels to the shepherds on the night of Jesus Christ's birth. This song, also known as "The Echo Carol" due to its distinctive call-and-response pattern, encapsulates the wonder and joy of Christ's nativity through its melodic storytelling. Let's delve into the meaning of this song and its biblical underpinnings.

The song begins with the shepherds watching their sheep by night, a scene directly reminiscent of Luke 2:8, which states, "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." This verse sets the stage, situating the shepherds—and by extension, the audience—in the quietude and solitude of a darkened field, an ordinary night that was about to become extraordinary.

As the song progresses, it recounts the sudden appearance of an "angel bright," bringing "glad tidings" to the shepherds. This moment is a musical representation of Luke 2:9-10, where "an 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." The song captures the essence of this biblical event, emphasizing the joy and awe of the moment.

The refrain, "How great our joy," echoed by the sheep, emphasizes the collective joy that this news brings, not only to the shepherds but to all of creation. This joy is a reflection of the magnitude of Christ's birth, a pivotal event in Christian theology that signifies God's love and salvation for humanity.

The song mentions the prophecy that "In Bethlehem a child today" shall be born, a reference to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah's birthplace, such as Micah 5:2, which states, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting." This line in the song underlines the fulfillment of God's promises and the grand narrative of redemption woven throughout the Bible.

"Praise ye the Lord in Heaven on high," the repeated line in the echo, serves as a call to worship and celebrate the divine intervention into human history through the birth of Jesus. This exhortation mirrors the response of all creation to God's salvific acts, as seen in Psalms like Psalm 148, which calls all of creation to praise the Lord.

In summary, "While By My Sheep" performed by VeggieTales, is more than a simple Christmas carol; it is a theological reflection on the joy, wonder, and fulfillment of prophecy that the birth of Jesus represents. Through its lyrics, the song encapsulates key biblical themes and narratives, inviting listeners to join in the shepherds' awe and rejoice in the good tidings of great joy that Christ's nativity brings to the world.