The Song of the Angels

Introduction

One of the struggles we face is the inability to glory in what is truly good.

-We are prone to exalt insignificant things

-I’m afraid too often we come to account of the birth of Christ with no wonder and little exultation in our heart for Christ.

Luke 1-2 is a narrative on the birth of Christ.

Narratives give us certainty and stability- Luke 1:1-4

Luke 1:1–4 KJV 1900

Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

-This is a primary source (hear from people who were there OR could talk to the ones who were).

-So many who are hungry for truth and searching for something to give them stability.

-Eye witness accounts provide certainty and stability.

Narratives make the account personal and relatable - Luke 1:5

Luke 1:5 KJV 1900

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

-These weren’t people floating in history

-Their lives are not less significant than our lives

-These are people that wrestled with the same life questions that we wrestle with

-They lost jobs and had to deal with inflation too

-They didn’t always like their politicians either - and they weren’t strangers to suffering

-So when we see them living their life, but then stop and praise God, it’s an opportunity for us to listen and praise too

Narratives teaches us how to praise

-Look at one of the last doxologies in the OT in Malachi 3:13-15

Malachi 3:14–15 KJV 1900

Ye [Israel] have said, “It is vain to serve God: And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, And that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; Yea, they that work wickedness are set up; Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.”

-Their conclusion was that praising God was harmful for them - so they decided to stop praising...

-So God gave them what they wanted - AND THEN THERE SILENCE

-For 400 years, God doesn’t speak

Fast Forward 400 years to Luke 1-2 - God breaks the silence

An angel speaks to Zechariah - Zechariah responds in praise (1:68-79)

Gabriel speaks to Mary - Mary responds in praise (1:46-55)

The Holy Spirit speaks to Simeon - Simeon responds in praise (2:29-32)

The angels (messengers of God) speak to the Shepherds (2:8-13) - the angels respond in praise (14)

Four times God speaks - and Four times this passages shifts from historical narrative to praise

-Israel was under water, drowning for 400 years...

-These four songs are like gasps of air that are trying to teach us how to breath today.

Fort Pitt Illustration

-Have you ever held your breath for long?

-Those who hear the word of God inhale and then they exhale with praise.

The song of the Angels… Luke 2:14

Luke 2:14 KJV 1900

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

The first thing we see about this song is that it is ...

A Song of Exaltation

“Glory to God in the Highest”

This statement is in response to the revelation of God to the shepherds.

-God Speaks, His Creation Praises (breathing)

Luke 2:8–12 KJV 1900

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, (11) I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

-We must remember that God had been silent for 400 years...

-Humanity had been waiting for the fulfillment of promise for thousands of years.

-There are 76 generations between Genesis 3:15 and Jesus.

-A lot of waiting - hoping - desiring - anticipating

-So when God speaks through the angels, the message is significant Luke 2:11

Luke 2:11 KJV 1900

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

-Each statement reached back to promises in the OT and connect them to Jesus

-(perspective) It would have been sufficient to say that a baby was born (Genesis 3:15)

-Instead, the angels were summarizing the whole of the OT and announcing that the culmination of the OT was here

This Song of Exaltation teaches us that ...

God is supreme “glory to God in the highest”

-No one is greater & No one is equal with God

-Can you imagine a world where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray “Thy kingdom maybe come, Thy will possibly be done”?

-Can you imagine a world where God is incapable of doing what he promises?

-A world where God sees the injustice and havoc of sin but it powerless to do anything about it

-Your Gift today would say, “Merry Christmas let’s all hope that God can do what He said He would do.”

-The irony is that every day we wake up, our heart naturally proclaims “my kingdom come, my will be done”

-In other words, we believe that we are supreme and worthy of exaltation

-The phrase “glory to God in the highest”

-...is not only a declaration about what is true about God

-...it is a declaration that we need Him

-There is a big billboard in Ellettsville that says “HOPE”

Number 2 - The Song of the Angels is...

A Song of God’s Presence

One of the most striking things about this song of exaltation is the depth of its theology

-The richer the theology, the greater the praise!

-In two simple phrases we have one of the most compelling realities of the Christian faith

-The angels state that God is supreme “glory to God in the highest” (no one is like Him - He shares his glory with no one)

-Then the angels prove that God is supreme in His incarnation (God almighty taking on flesh)

-Here’s what is so compelling...

-Every other religious has an understanding of their god

-Every other god is either:

-Supreme and powerful but not personal and present

-Or has some aspect of being Personal and present but inferior and weak

-What the angels state is that God is unlike any other God because He is both

-Supreme & Powerful - Transcendent

-Personal & Present - Immanent

Luke 2:14 is one of the most quoted Christmas verse - it’s on most cards

-The angels are not just wishing peace and throwing it around like candy at a Christmas parade

-The significance of this song is that the angels are saying that there can be peace on earth because God IS OUR PEACE and He has come to dwell with us

This announcement is really the foundation of the Gospel

-It’s what makes the Gospel possible and powerful

-We are sinners and sufferers with no peace or the ability to bring peace to ourselves or deliverance

-Therefore we need an all-powerful God that is greater than us and distinct from us to enter our suffering and do for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

-That is why this Song of the Angels is so glorious

-Because God came to be our substitute

This song is a Song of Exaltation, a Song of God’s Presence...

Number 3 - The Song of the Angels is...

A Song of Deliverance

“Good will toward men”

For a long time, I thought this last phrase was just a formal conclusion to the announcement

-Take care

-God-speed

-Watch for deer

Instead, this last phrase is the the climax of the exaltation

“Good will” isn’t an expression we use often (Charles Dickens & Jane Austen)

-It is an expression of benevolence.

-Someone is acting kindly or well towards another

In this case...

-The all supreme God...

-Has come to us to bring us peace by being our substitute

-And he delivers sinners as an act of benevolence/GRACE

There is no greater gift than to have your sin forgiven and be adopted as a child of God.

-You don’t need to be a special person - this message was given to lowly Shepherds

-You don’t need to earn God’s grace - He only gives it as a gift

-If you have never received the grace of God - today is the day of salvation

-He has come to deliver sinners - receive Him today

If you know Christ today, my prayer is that you learn to exalt in the greatness of God

-You learn to breathe - you learn to listen to the Word of God and respond in Praise