A Song of Peace - Gloria in Excelsis Deo

Luke 2:8–15 NASB95

8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared 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 men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

Introduction

At one point or another most of us go through a season of feeling like we can’t keep up. Day in and day out, week in and week out there are expectations of us that seem too great to bear. Some of us here are in the midst of that season. Any time you mix work, school, and a young family together it doesn’t take long to feel the burden of expectation. It wasn’t that long ago when I was working days, going to school at night, trying to be as helpful as possible with a toddler at home, all while regularly teaching Sunday School at church. It doesn’t take long to feel that burden of expectation. Maybe there are health issues, financial burdens, or the needs of extended family that add to the burden which is already heavy.

As we approach Christmas day there's music, teaching, and Scripture that speak of this peace that comes with Christ’s coming. He’s the Prince of Peace. We sing Silent night where all is calm, all is bright as the baby Jesus sleeps in heavenly peace. Some of you may be thinking that sure sounds nice, but my kids sure didn’t sleep in heavenly peace. There is not a whole lot of calm in my house. Perhaps everything isn’t as bright as it could be. There’s a looming question that maybe we don’t always wrestle with, “What does the peace that comes with Christmas actually have to do with my circumstances?” “How do I know peace with the burdens and expectations that rest on my shoulders?”

Consider the shepherds for a moment. These are people of humble means. They work with animals all day. They’re sleeping on the ground night after night keeping watch over the flock. You can imagine how these humble laborers may not meet all the societal expectations of suburban life in Israel. They don’t have to worry about that though right because they’re off in the fields, free from the burdens and expectations of society. For some of us this scene may sound kind of nice: distanced from all the world’s cares and expectations of us just sitting under the stars next to a campfire. If you’re not the camping type, you can imagine a nice warm cabin off the grid somewhere. Is this where peace is found? The declaration of peace doesn’t come to the shepherds because they’re free of the burden of the everyone’s expectations of them. The declaration of peace comes with the good news, and that only after they’re confronted with just how far short they fall before such heavenly glory.

Peace in the Christmas story doesn’t come to those who are free of life’s burdens; Peace comes to those who recognize just how burdened and unworthy they really are before God and humbly receive the good news of Christ’s coming. It’s from this peace found in the good news of Christ that these humble laborers and sinners join with these glorious angels in worship.

With the coming of Christ comes a declaration of peace that even humble sinners may come before their glorious God and worship.

My emphasis this morning really is on the angels’ song which is where my three points come from, but I’d like us to pay attention to the narrative as well because the narrative makes the same points as the angel’s song. They’re not disconnected.

The Glory of God

The Peace of God

The Favor of God

1. The Glory of God

Before we really look at the glory of God revealed to these shepherds let’s put ourselves in their shoes for another moment and recognize the contrast. It’s night time outside of Bethlehem. It’s quiet! It’s dark. It’s likely been quiet for hours. When was the last time you sat in peace and quiet for more than hour? Our lives are so full of noise. Trucks going down the highway, planes flying overhead, television, media, kids, always pushing out the silence. The shepherds were likely quite comfortable in the quiet darkness.

It was in that quiet darkness though that the Christ had been born and in that moment the message would be declared by a glorious host of heaven, but before the heavenly host sings, there’s a kind of introductory message given to the shepherds.

If you’ve ever been to the orchestra there’s a similar feel there. If you haven’t I’d highly recommend it, but very often, before the music starts, someone comes out to speak to the audience. There’s a welcome and an introduction to the event. You get some clarity on what to expect for the evening perhaps. You might get introduced to the conductor if he’s not the one speaking. There’s nothing really glamorous to it, everyone’s waiting in anticipation for the music to begin.

For the shepherds though, they’re introduction to this glorious host of heaven is shocking in and of itself. It’s full of wonderful news, but before the angel even begins to speak, the glory of heaven shines in the darkness.

Luke 2:9 NASB95

9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

—-

It’s hard to describe what’s really going on here. Surely this angel by himself would be frightening. If any ordinary man approached me unnoticed in the dead of night I’d probably be a bit frightened, but the real emphasis I’d like to make here is the glory of the Lord. It is not the angel who is glorious as majestic as he may be. It is God who is glorious. It’s His glory that fills the dark of night. It’s His glory that brings them to fear.

I don’t know of any orchestra that has brought the audience to a sense of awe and wonder during the introduction. Perhaps after the crescendo of the final piece and the music stops would the audience stand in awe and applause, but here.. not even a word has been spoken, and the glory of God in the presence of ordinary shepherds has brought them to immense fear. Whatever peace was found in that dark quiet field is gone… utterly.

It only takes another moment before the angel provides the shepherds with some comfort, but before we get there let’s look to the angel’s song. They’re introductory line only magnifies what the shepherds have already witnessed.

Luke 2:13–14 NASB95

13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest.”

—-

I can’t help but wonder how utterly shocked the shepherd’s must have been. They’ve already been scared half to death before a single angel then suddenly there’s a multitude, a heavenly host of angels singing before them, “Glory to God in the highest.”

These angels, these messengers come for the good and the benefit of the shepherds, but their fundamental purpose is the praise and glory of God. Their song serves to benefit the shepherds, but it is first and foremost a song sung to the glory of God.

Before we talk about our good in the Christmas story we need to reckon for a moment with God’s glory.

When we talk about peace it’s often couched in the context of the needs or desires of humanity.

There’s a good and worthy desire for peace in the world, but where does real peace come from?

There’s a good desire in many of us to resolve the tension in our hearts and feel a real sense of peace, but where does that peace really come from?

“If only we can take care of the real sinners over there, then we’ll have peace. They’re the ones who cause trouble.”

“If only I can relieve myself of this particular burden here, then I’ll have peace.”

Often times we recognize real and tangible hindrances to our peace, but we look for solutions in the wrong places that often begin with, “If only...”

In truth before we can really experience peace in this world we must be willing to reckon with the glory of God, and at the onset that may not be a particularly peaceful thought or experience. The angels came delivering a message worthy of God not necessarily what was comfortable for the shepherds at first.

A single angel could have certainly come in the quiet of night with a written invitation to see Jesus in the stables. That would have been a little less disturbing I imagine, but they didn’t. They showed the Shepherds in their message who this Christ really was. He was God! He was deserving of honor and glory and power and the eternal praise of both angels and men alike.

That’s a humbling message. One that may very well incite fear in our hearts if we’re honest with ourselves. The revelation of glory by nature reveals all that is not glorious in it’s presence. Before these shepherds stands a being worthy of the throne room of heaven and they recognize in that moment, they are not dressed nor worthy for the throne room of heaven - the presence of the glory of God.

In that moment of witnessing such glory I can’t imagine the shepherds were thinking, “You know what, this is for my good.” I imagine they feared for their lives more than anything, but in truth the peace of God which they would experience only comes from actually knowing who God is. There are some who may say, “Give me the peace, but leave God out of it.” It doesn’t work like that.

Consider Paul. Consider his words to the Philippians.

Philippians 4:7 NASB95

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

——

How did Paul get to the point where he can preach and proclaim such a peace? He too started his journey witnessing the glory of God in Christ in all His grandeur on the road to Damascus. He was blinded by His glory!

Our initial persuasion may be to avoid such glory that terrifies - to avoid such glory which blinds the likes of Saul on the road to Damascus. What will happen to me if I approach such glory?

At the end of the day those who are willing to be humbled by the glory of God get to receive the benefits of that glory. As holy and terrifying as it is there is grace to be found in that glory. There is mercy to be found in that glory. There’s peace to be found in our glorious God, because God in all his glory, majesty and power is the only one who can overcome all that truly threatens our peace.

If we only ever associate with those who are like us, those who we’re comfortable with, what help do we have when real crisis comes?

When the world, the flesh, the devil, and the pervasiveness of sin go to war with us and our peace is threatened we need someone greater than us to overcome such powers. We need someone glorious and powerful and majestic to overcome such great forces of darkness. We need God! No matter how humbling or terrifying that initial encounter is with God and all his glory as he reveals our sinful depravity, He is the only way to truly know peace!

As a simple encouragement to us here this morning.

In our search for peace, don’t settle for something less than glorious!

There are numerous things in this world that promise comfort today, but it does not provide a lasting peace. In our age we have the privilege of going from one comfort to the next, but it is no substitute for a true lasting peace.

Take time to come before God. Keep coming before him, even if it’s humbling. If you’re not a believer this morning it may even come with moments of fright, but know this: There is grace and peace in that awesome glory which humbles us and lays us low.

The angel take no time at all to put the shepherd’s at ease with words of peace.

2. The Peace of God

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

—-

Amidst the terrifying reality that’s before them in the presence of the glory of God and the appearance of one of Heaven’s angels, the first words that are spoken are profound.

“Do not be afraid.”

He appeals to the evident condition of their heart in that moment and tells them to be at peace. Don’t be terrified. That by itself though is of little reassurance isn’t it?

Have you ever been to the zoo and seen the lions or the gorillas on the other side of the glass? It’s a thick piece of glass so you don’t hesitate to step up to the glass even if that massive gorilla or lion is just on the other side. “Don’t be afraid” makes sense because there’s separation there. There’s something protecting you from that gorilla if all of a sudden he doesn’t like you. Suppose the next time you go to the zoo and the glass isn’t there. If the zookeeper comes along with a simple command, “Don’t be afraid” that’s probably not going to cut it. If you’re looking a lion in the eye, there’s nothing separating you from this magnificent beast and you don’t know if he’s hungry or not, “Don’t be afraid” isn’t going to keep me from leaving in a hurry!

I’m going to need an explanation. “Why?” “Why should I not be absolutely terrified in this moment? This animal might decide to take my life in any moment.” I’m going to need some good news to believe in if my heart is actually going to be at peace in that moment.

The presence of fear demands some truth, some good news, for our faith to depend on if peace is going to be restored. If that demand is not satisfied, if we don’t find that good news, we’ll respond just like any animal would. Fight or flight. Our natural state of being tells us to remove the power that threatens us or remove ourselves from the influence of the threat.

The angel’s appeal to the the shepherds really goes against the nature of man. It goes against all worldly wisdom. It calls the shepherds to faith! It calls them to believe that there is good news for them in the presence of the glory of God who could deliver justice and wrath in a moment if he desired.

What’s this good news that give them reason to for peace?

Luke 2:10–11 NASB95

10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

—-

God Himself, the Messiah King, has become a man like you in order to provide a way of salvation for all those who are not glorious.

This message, this good news culminates in the song of the angel host.

Luke 2:14 NASB95

14 ... And on earth peace among men...

—-

Amidst this terrifying glory of God comes the good news that God is so devoted to our redemption that He would humble Himself to the degree that he would be born in Bethlehem and lain in a manger.

There are three degrees to that.

God became a man. He was born. That’s good news! He was willing to become like us. He did not call us to ascend to the heights of His glory, he came down to walk among us.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem. That’s good news! Jesus wasn’t concerned with being born in a great city like Jerusalem where he would be recognized by many. He saw fit to be born amongst the ordinary men and women of Bethlehem.

Furthermore, Jesus, this Messiah King was lain in a manger: That’s good news. There’s no degree of humility he’s not willing to go to in order to accomplish this glorious salvation which these angels declare.

God has made Himself approachable in becoming a man that he would deliver even lowly shepherds from their sins ultimately glorifying even these humble sinners in Himself.

That is reason for peace! That is reason for fear to be laid aside.

Not only that, this good news which brings peace is so great it will bring actual joy to all who receive it.

There’s a good chance there are those here this morning who feel that joy is just simply out of reach. Perhaps even this message of peace feels intangible.

Where do we begin?

It seems so simple, but the angel started simply. He said, “Behold.”

When we feel robbed of our joy and our peace we need to begin with our eyes. Where are our eyes looking?

There are very real burdens in our lives that bring us fear and anxiety and rob us of our joy and peace. At times they can appear all consuming. If that’s all we’re looking at we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in fight or flight.

Our eyes must move from those burdens to the one who is greater and more glorious than even our greatest burdens. That may seem counterintuitive at first. Why would I change my focus from the burden before me to that greater glory which lays me lower than I already am? It’s when we behold the glory of God in humility and behold the good news of Christ coming as a baby to deliver us, that we begin to overcome our fears with faith.

When we take the time to

See who God is in His glory,

See how gracious He is toward us,

and See how great the good news of Christ really is,

then we begin to understand what real lasting peace looks like. Then we too can join the angels in singing “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among men” - because we actually know that peace.

So what does that actually look like?

I’d encourage you, grab one of the Christmas devotionals in the back on the table. “Every Day Gospel” by Paul David Tripp. First two chapters:

1. The grace of God

2. The fear of man

Maybe take some time in the Psalms this Christmas.

Look for His glory.

Look for His grace.

Look for that good news! Write it down. Maybe even memorize a couple verses as food for your faith that overcomes fear. - as food for your faith that leads to lasting peace.

...

As we’ll see in the text this declaration of peace found in the good news doesn’t stop there, these shepherds actually come to experience the favor of God in receiving that good news.

3. The Favor of God

The conclusion to the song of this angel host might give us reason for pause at first.

In the NASB which I’ve read this morning we read, “with whom he is pleased.”

I like how the CSB puts it, “to people he favors.”

If you’re anything like me when I read that verse for the first time my first question is, “How do I know I’m the one God favors?” How do I know God is pleased with me?”

If we’re not careful here, we can immediately leave faith behind and start looking at ourselves. That fear comes right back because we realize we’re not worthy. We’re not glorious. We’re not pleasing in God’s eyes as sinners. We can’t stop beholding the grace of God when we talk about the Lord’s favor. This is where I think it’s really important we recognize the context.

Who is this proclamation being given to? Who is the angel host singing in front of? I might even go as far to say, who is this angel host inviting to sing with them?

These are ordinary shepherds. Sinners just like all of us! And the angel makes it very personal in his message.

Luke 2:11 NASB95

11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

—-

The angel could have made it very general.

there has been born for mankind a Savior...

there has been born for his people a Savior...

no...

He says there has been born for you… you humble and lowly people still in darkness… This Savior is for you, He is Christ the Lord!

The angel doesn’t stop there either.

Luke 2:12 NASB95

12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

—-

We can say this morning without a shadow of a doubt. If you recognize yourself as unworthy before our glorious God, this message of peace is for you as much as it was for these lowly shepherds. The Lord’s favor is for you should you receive that gospel in faith. And for those who have received that good news, don’t be tempted to think that somehow the Lord’s favor and pleasure toward his children is now based on our self-worthiness, no. The Lord’s favor toward us in founded in His Son! Because of Christ he delights in us.

In the end it’s those who don’t see anything wrong with themselves that are left out because they don’t even recognize their own need. Their faith isn’t in the gospel it’s in their own standing, but for those who recognize, “I am unworthy. I am in need of a Savior.” The Lord’s favor is for you in Christ!

See the faith with which the Shepherd’s respond!

Luke 2:15 NASB95

15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

—-

You don’t see them looking at themselves thinking how unworthy they are! They’re not questioning, “Are we the favored ones?” They know what the angel said! This good news is for all people. This good news is for us!

“Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see...”

No time is wasted. Let’s go see this favor which the Lord has given us in a Savior.

They come, they see their Savior, the baby Jesus, and how do they respond.

They do exactly as the angels did!

The go and tell all who will hear, and they went back to their normal lives glorifying and praising God. They recognized the Lord’s favor towards them to the degree that they thought it only appropriate to continue what the angels had begun!

Let’s say for a moment you do get a chance to go to the orchestra. The show has come to a close, you’ve seen it in all it’s glory. Everyone applauds and begins to make there way out, but you make your way on stage with a couple friends thinking I think I’ll take my turn. It would perhaps be a little inappropriate to assume that anyone can just step onto the stage and perform like that magnificent orchestra just did, but that’s the crazy part of this story. The text doesn’t say the favor of God is for the angels who worship him in His throne room in all their glory and majesty as extraordinary as that heavenly host must have been. The favor of God is toward the humble and the lowly, and it’s in that favor that they join that heavenly host as worthy messenger and worthy worshippers.

Let’s not underestimate the Lord’s favor toward us in Christ. God does not function according to a worldly wisdom that keeps the ordinary and humble off the stage, no! He explicitly invites them into the front row to see the glory and majesty of it all and then invites them on stage to continue the show!

It’s these lowly shepherds who get the honor of being the first human ambassadors to proclaim “Christ has come”

It’s these lowly shepherds who are some of the first among men to sing of the birth of Christ in praise to God.

It’s the humble who experience the Lord’s favor. It’s these who are favored in Christ who are privileged with the work of angels: proclaiming and praising his name for all of time.

I’d like to end with a simple observation:

Luke 2:20 NASB95

20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

—-

The ordinary lives of the shepherds didn’t change much. They went back to the fields to watch their sheep just like before, but they had come to know the glory, the peace, and favor of God. In that understanding taken in faith, their lives would never be the same. That peace would go with them till the day they died. There would still be sin, there would still be trial, there would still be loss in the same broken world we live in, but from that day on they would know the peace of Christ through faith.

That goes for us today! Whatever our normal ordinary lives look like, as burdensome as that may look like in some seasons, we can know a supernatural peace in the ordinary of life because God is glorious. Christ has come bringing peace to us through His death and resurrection, and in that peace we have with God we have his favor!

Let’s Pray.