Life Ministries

“The Angel’s Song”

Luke 2:8-14

“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.”

    The whole world was changed when Christ was born; even today the world is a radically different place because of Christmas. The only other event in human history that has had such a profound effect on humanity is Easter. No wonder the angels burst forth in song saying “I bring you good news, of great joy! Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord!...Glory to God in the highest!...and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.”

    The closer we get to Christmas, the more seasonal music we hear. There are secular songs and religious songs, there are traditional songs and contemporary songs, Hymns and Carols; but, the least known yet the very best songs are found in the Book of Luke. So far in this series we have listened to Zechariah’s song; giving praise and glory and honor to God for the gift of his son John – who was to prepare the way of the Lord… A song that rang with the sounds of “God remembers His promises”! 
    Then, we heard Mary’s song…a song of spontaneous praise that echoed the words of Elizabeth “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said will be accomplished”!  And, now we have the Angel’s song of “Glory to God in the highest”! And, we have two more in this series – We will take a closer listen to Simeon’s song, and then Christmas Eve. we will celebrate by asking “What is God’s promise to us?...and, what should “Our song” be?”
    The angel’s song of praise came in a most unusual way to a most unlikely group. You see, shepherds were really a low and despised class of people in Jesus day…nothing like the image we have in our nativity scenes and church plays. No matter how much they loved God, the demands of the flock were too much for them to obey all the ceremonial aspects of the law – such as hand washing and other clean-liness issues…And so, to these who found it perhaps the most difficult to keep the law came the announcement of the one who would save them by grace!
    Perhaps they were “special shepherds” in the sense that they cared for a special flock of sheep…those without spot or blemish that were used in the daily sacrifice at the temple… Maybe that’s why they were given the “good news” of the one who would sacrifice himself as the “Lamb of God.”
    Maybe it was because these low class citizen’s who it has been said, could not even testify in a court of law, were called upon by God to testify to the world of the Savior’s birth! Verse 17 tells us that “when they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told to them about this child.”
    Whatever the reason, God sent His choir of angels to sing a song of Glory to these shepherds. We sing the wonderful Hymn that is taken from this scripture in Luke called “Hark The Herald, Angel’s Sing.” The tune for this classic song was written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. The words were written by Charles Wesley. In his life time Charles Wesley wrote over 6,500 hymns. This one, --- along with “Jesus, Lover of my Soul” --- are considered to be the finest hymn lyrics Wesley ever wrote.
The 1st Stanza Focuses On THE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT :
--“Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful all Ye Nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies.
With angelic hosts proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem.
Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.”

    The angel gave an announcement that did three things for the shepherds that night: The announcement - Calmed their fear; It created Hope - and It called others to Worship. The best Christmas announcement we could give this year would be nothing less…for the Christmas story still does the same today!

    The angel said in verse 10 "Do not be afraid."  The shepherd’s had good reason to be afraid… They didn’t know if this might be an angel come to pronounce God’s judgment  upon them, or if it was the end of the world! But, it says they were terrified! Is there a need for calming fear in people’s lives today? I would say there is. The truth is that we live in a society where people fear many things; Some fear for personal safety; Some people fear for their provisional security in a world where their financial future is unknown and their basics needs of life might go unmet; Will I be cold or warm?... Will I go hungry or be fed? …Will I be able to make ends meet? Many people fear death and wonder what’s beyond this life?
    The reason we can be God’s messenger’s, helping to calm people’s fears is because of the message we have to share; it’s a message that  Creates HOPE – “I bring you good news of great joy”!  God has remembered His promises, and has sent a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”.  After some 400 years of silence from God, it would be easy to lose hope… After some 2000 years since the ascension of Christ, it would be easy to lose hope that He will ever come again… But, the message of the angels and the message we bring to the world every Christmas is a message of Hope!
    The angels brought a message that would calm their fears and bring hope, and finally, one that would call for worship and praise. Our celebration is a call to worship that we might sing and say as the angels did that first Christmas "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."… Glory to God… who is who He says He is; can do what He says He can do!
    As the angels’ concert ends and the glow of heaven gives way again to whatever dark or gray place in which you may find yourself;  before life has a chance to just go back to its regular routine; And as the question crosses your mind, “What happens now?” Let me suggest that the response of the shepherds is always appropriate – Run to Jesus! (“Let’s go and see that what God said is true!) And, then spread the news with the message that calms fears; brings hope; and calls for worship and praise “Glory to God in the highest and on Earth Peace, and good will toward men!”  - Amen