Angels We Have Heard On High

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

“Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly singing o'er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Angels we have heard on high

Sweetly, sweetly through the night

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their brief delight

Gloria, in excelsis Deo

Gloria, in excelsis Deo

When the angel appeared to Mary in Luke 1:30, its first words to her are, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.”

Do not be afraid…

An angel is depicted appearing to Joseph in Matthew 19-25, encouraging him to not be afraid to marry Mary.

And when the angels appeared to the shepherds in Luke 2:9, and the “glory of God shone around them and they were terrified”… how did the angel comfort them?

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great for for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)

As we think about “Angels We Have Heard On High,” we would  probably all admit that angels are not a topic we think about very often. The original Greek from which we derive the word “angel” is angelos, which literally also means “messenger.” True to name, angels are depicted throughout Scripture as messengers of God’s decrees, appearing to provide directives and prophecies to frequently ordinary people, like Mary, Joseph, and shepherds, that would alter the course their lives.

And when God calls upon our lives – when we are challenged to take up the cross of Jesus, abandon the pathways of sin, and embark on a new adventure seeking the Kingdom of Heaven – isn’t fear natural?

Although we may like to think that we would respond to such a divine beckoning with open arms, our natural response is always fear.

The angels appeared to change lives forever. Neither Mary, Joseph or the shepherds were ever the same. There is much to fear in the unknown, and that’s exactly where God calls us.

But, like the people recorded in Scripture, we too have to wade through the fear, fight off our natural, sin-dictated inclinations, and join in with the heavenly chorus of worship.

God’s way is different than everything we’ve ever known on this Earth. Bigger, bolder, more daring, more audacious. He uses regular people to accomplish the most extraordinary feats in human history.

Can we join with the angels in worship, abandoning our fears and siding with the King’s master plan?

Dear Lord, It’s not easy to follow You sometimes, particularly when the path that You lead us down is frightening and unknown. We pray that You’ll also strengthen and encourage us to be bold. Thank You for Your reliability and knowing that You lead and guide us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Luke 2:14 (ESV)

 “Glory to God in the highest,

    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Angels we have on heard high

Sweetly singing o’er the plains

And the mountains in reply

Echoing their joyous strains

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

What inspires awe in you? What things cause you to become speechless when you see them? Is it the sight of a family member you haven’t seen in years? Is it visiting a majestic place like a mountain or a historical place like the ancient pyramids of Egypt? The night Christ was born was the most monumental and awe-inspiring event that has ever occurred in human history, as God sent His one and only Son to earth so that we could ultimately have eternal life. There has not been an event in history before or after Christ’s birth that resulted in such celebration that the angels themselves made their physical presence known and their voices heard in song. Can you imagine how the shepherds’ jaws must have dropped at the sight and sounds of the angels? That moment was so majestic that we probably cannot fully comprehend what it was like because honestly, none of us have encountered such a sight.

It seems like people tend to have fewer experiences these days of complete awe. Technology has brought so much of the world to our living rooms and fingertips that we can see anything we want and feel like we are anywhere we want to be. Unfortunately, most of us probably have fewer awe-inspiring moments with God than we should. Our relationship with Him often becomes too comfortable and even ordinary. This Christmas, make an attempt to regain those awe-inspiring moments with God. Strive to make your relationship with Him something so inspiring that it causes you to rejoice like the angels did. Don’t let your relationship with Him be ordinary, but rather make it extraordinary.

Think about some awe-inspiring moments you’ve had with God. How have these moments transformed you?

What changes do you need to make in your life so that you can start having more awe-inspiring moments with God?

Dear Lord, help us to regain those awe-inspiring moments with You this Christmas.  Help us to slow down and enjoy what You do for us. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. 

Angels We Have Heard on High

Luke 2:13-14  (ESV)

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Do you know what was one of the hardest, smelliest, and most dangerous jobs in Jesus' time? If you said "shepherd" then you're right! Shepherds worked long hours and slept outside. They chased away dangerous animals and thieves, had to find water for themselves and the animals, and nursed the sheep back to health when they were sick.  Even though their job was hard, shepherds didn't always get a lot of thanks. But God cares about everybody--shepherds included--and that's part of why we read in Luke that he sent his angels to shepherds to announce the birth of Christ! These particular shepherds were guarding the sheep at night when an angel appeared and told them about Jesus. Then, more angels appeared, and they sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." The Savior God had promised was coming--and that meant good news for even the smelliest of shepherds!

In Angels We Have Heard on High, we sing the story of the shepherds and we sing the song of the angels, "Glory to God in the highest."  Although we don't know who wrote this carol, we do know that the song was originally French, written in the 18th century and translated into English around 1862.  The carol speaks of hearing the angels' song echoing in the mountains, and then questions the shepherds about why they are so happy. Then it answers, and begs those who hear to come to Bethlehem to see King Jesus, about whom the angels were singing. The carol then invites us to imagine Jesus, lying in a manger, the Lord of heaven and earth whom even his earthly parents ought to worship. God could have sent Jesus' birth announcement to kings and queens all over the world, but instead, he sent it to shepherds. Singing this carol encourages us to praise the God who keeps his promises, and who cares about everybody, whether they are shepherds or kings or you or me.

Dear Lord, we thank You for always keeping your promises. We thank You that You care for each of us so much You came to Earth to bring us salvation. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.