The Birth Announcement To The Shepherds-Part 1

After telling us where the shepherds were and what they are doing, Luke says that "an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the Glory of God shone around them; and they were terribly frightened." Have you ever considered what the Glory of God was? Was it just an extremely bright light and some sort of mystical presence? The Old Testament really makes this passage come alive.
The Glory of God had not been seen by anyone on the earth in almost 600 years. During the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness it always disclosed itself as a cloud by day to shelter the Hebrews from the sun, and fire by night to keep them warm. The "Glory" had last been seen by Ezekiel in a vision as he is held captive in Babylon. Solomon's Temple, where the "Glory" was then residing, was burned to the ground by the Babylonians in 586 BC. God allows Ezekiel to see the "Glory" depart from the Temple, move to the threshold of the Temple, then move to the Eastern gate of the city, then hover over the Mount of Olives, and go back to heaven. The Glory of God had not been seen by any human being for almost 600 years. Is it any wonder that the shepherds were so frightened?
Shepherds made up the bottom rung of the social ladder. They were considered untrustworthy and their testimony was not valid in a court of law. How interesting that God chose these men to be the first Jews to see the Messiah. Why would anyone try to fabricate something like this?
After telling the shepherds the amazing news of the Savior's birth, the angel gives them what sign which will help them identify the baby?
That He would be laying in a manger and that He would be wrapped in cloths.
(From: When the Good News Gets Even Better)