“The angels sing, Peace on earth, good will to men, from heaven’s all gracious King.” Good news. The Messiah’s birth! Our Savior is here. Yet, as the song continues, we see men trodding on, the weight of life causing back breaking toil. One day looks just like another. The angels sing over earth’s Babel sounds- manmade idols to worship, false gospels that are preached. Man is weary. We are looking for peace, yet unable to find the peace that passes all understanding. “Look now! Hear the angels sing.” The prophets foretold of the coming Savior, Jesus. He came the first time as a lowly babe in a manger.
Have you received Him as Savior and Lord? Is He welcomed into your home as the centerpiece of your Christmas celebration? For as the song concludes, just as scripture says, He is coming back. The whole world will bow at His return. When “peace shall over all the earth, its ancient splendors fling.”
The angels sang at His first coming. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14). The angels will sing at His second coming. “…the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:11b-12)
Let us come to Him. Rest in His presence. Hear the angels sing. Prepare your hearts to receive your King this Christmas. And may He be Lord of your life as the days move forward into the New Year.
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear *
1 It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
2 Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
3 And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
*hymnary.org