THE SONG OF ANGELS
Christmas 2023 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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THE SONG OF ANGELS
THE SONG OF ANGELS
Angels are mentioned all throughout the Nativity story. It was an angel that appeared to Joseph and then Marry. It was an angel that appeared to Elizabeth and Zacharias. And, it was an angel that appeared to the Shepherds who watched over their sheep at night.
An article by Ray Prichard in 2003 stated,
Richard Dawkins is perhaps the most famous evolutionist in the world. He is a noted scientist, a gifted writer, an avowed atheist, and a fierce opponent of religion. He says that those who do not believe in evolution are “ignorant or brainwashed.” He believes the world would be better off without religion because it is based on superstition. In a recent Beliefnet interview he declared, “You won’t find any intelligent person who feels the need for the supernatural.” He goes on to say that a world without religion would be paradise on earth.
The point is not to refute him, but to use him to illustrate one aspect of a truly Christian worldview. We believe in something absolutely amazing. Whereas Dawkins denies the supernatural and dismisses existence to the mere bordom of an evolutionary process.
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, goodwill toward men!”
Now at first glance you may be confused because the verse we just read states that the Angels said, but does not say that they sang.
Now, we know that singing is a type of speaking so this does not rule out singing but does not specifically denote a vocal chorus. So, why does everyone seem to accept that the angels sang on that occasion?
Answers in Genesis answers this question by saying: “The Greek word translated as “praising” is αινουντων (ainountōn) from the root αινεω (aineō), and in a general sense, it means “to speak of the excellence of a person, object, or event.” More specifically, in the New Testament it is used to denote “the joyful praise of God expressed in doxology, hymn or prayer, whether by individuals (Lk. 2:20; Ac. 3:8 f., the group of disciples (Lk. 19:37), the community (Ac. 2:47; Rev. 19:5) or the angels (Lk. 2:13).”
We see in Revelation 5 that angels do sing.
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
Therefore, singing is part of their nature and within their abilities. Furthermore, we see that singing is pleasing to God.
On this most holy of occasions there is a song that was sung by Angels to welcome the savior. This was not just a song of festivities. No, this was much more than that. It was a song of praise that was delivered by heavenly beings, to trumpet the birth of the Messiah, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords.
This song was a message for the shepherds. But, it was also a message for the world. The Messiah has come and His name is Jesus.
This morning I would like to examine their song, and ask God to reveal in our hearts the message that they sang.
I. Glory to God in the Highest.
I. Glory to God in the Highest.
This word glory comes from the Greek word doxa (combines with logos is where we get the word doxology, glory-speaking) and means adornment, splendour, brightness, radiance, and majesty.
It brings to mind the most beautiful Christmas tree that you have ever seen. Tall, beautiful, all a-glow. Mesmerizing to the point that you can not turn your gaze away.
Here the angels where quick to remind the shepherds that they were not the focus. Even though they appeared in the sky, the shepherds were to forget that they were even there. Glory to God in the highest.
Rev 4.11 says that the Lord is worthy to receive all glory and honor and praise.
In contrast romans 3.23 says,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
To give God glory means that we recognize the splendor that He already possess, and to adorn Him with our praise,
The phrase, In the highest, means that He alone is above all else. All things on Earth and in Heaven.
And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
II. On Earth Peace.
II. On Earth Peace.
He was and is the bringer of peace.
This was the expectation of the Jews of His day and one of the reasons why he was rejected.
The Jews wanted a military leader who would conquer the Romans and bring governmental peace. However, what they recieved was one that would bring such peace that peace can reign regardless of political disturbance, persecution, or death.
Peace is something we long for but can never obtain or sustain apart from Christ.
Peace in the midst of storm - A former president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and historians from England, Egypt, Germany, and India have come up with some startling information: Since 3600 B.C. the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars, large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. Moreover, in excess of 8000 peace treaties have been made—and broken.
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He is the prince of Peace. It is not just that He will bring peace or point mankind towards peace. No, He is more than a bringer of peace, He is peace.
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
III. Goodwill towards men.
III. Goodwill towards men.
This word satisfaction comes from the Greek root word, Eudokia and means satisfaction or approval.
Thus, it is through Jesus that man can find approval before God and our sin debt can be satisfied.
Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
Thus, it is through the blood of Jesus, the spotless lamb of God, that we can satisfaction for our sin debt.
Furthermore, we can have approval in the Fathers eyes because of Jesus.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,