Heaven and Nature Sing - The Angel's Song
It’s interesting for most of us we all have favorite songs and hymns.
In most cases we wished they lasted a little longer, maybe an extra chorus or bridge to string it out.
Short hymns or songs aren’t necessarily bad.
Think of your favorite song or hymn.
In most cases we have played it so much that we don’t even need it playing to be able to sing it.
We have memorized the words over time with hitting rewind or even asking Siri to play it again.
Well, we are still in our series “Heaven and Nature Sing” where we are looking at the original songs of Christmas written in the Gospels.
This morning brings us to the third song in the Christmas story.
This song is short, I mean really short it takes less than 10 seconds to read the lyrics.
It's short, but ironically, it's one of those songs you wish would last longer because it's our favorite Christmas song in scriptures.
In fact, it's so familiar that many Christians and non-Christians alike could probably quote the lyrics from memory because we've heard it so many times.
Most children who grew up in church were cast in an annual Christmas play that involved this very scene.
Children would come out dressed in white robes, with homemade halos on their heads, and one youngster would quote this song.
Compared to Mary’s and Zechariah’s songs, this one is very brief.
Today we will be looking at a song that is so short, it only has 15 words in it.
However, it is packed full of promise
What we will see is….
Application Point: In our darkest times, Christ brings us hope by being born and destined to die for the sins of humanity.
If you have your Bibles open them up to Luke 2:13-14
Back of pew in front of you
Onscreen up here and also online
READ Luke 2:13-14 - Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
PRAYER
Big Idea of the Message: In a time of darkness and desperation, a great angelic host appears and brings hope to the lowly ones.
The word “praising” in verse 13 can be used in reference to a hymn.
The culture of those who sang this song was heavenly—so it’s probably difficult for us to imagine how it may have sounded, but it wasn’t meant to tickle the ears of the listeners.
This song’s emphasis, while certainly an announcement, was to bring glory to God.
We can learn from this as people and churches.
It’s not about us putting on a show for one another but about bringing ultimate glory to our Creator.
This song begins with “Glory.”
Even the hymn “Doxology” is a short song, this morning we sang the modern long version of the song however in the hymnal it only has 25 words
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
We get our English word doxology from the Greek word for glory, DOXA.
So, whenever we sing the doxology to God, we’re giving him glory, honor, and praise.
The angels are attributing greatness to God, as there is no one higher than him.
He is the only one worthy to be praised.
Also, these angels are announcing genuine peace in a time of manufactured political peace.
After all, this was the time of the Roman.
It was the narrative the Romans wanted to push, but it was far from reality.
This announcement of God sent genuine peace
It would likely have been a great encouragement to every Jew as these shepherds told others about what happened.
Most people, homes, institutions, and countries desire to be in a constant state of peace.
Turmoil is oppressive and can have heavy psychological, spiritual, and physical effects.
This announcement was HOPE.
It was not only what the nation had been looking for—it was what they needed.
They needed deep spiritual peace, and it was about to arrive in the form of a baby.
But who is the audience for this heavenly concert is some lowly shepherds
not the high and mighty
not the mayor of the village
not the religious elite
Wouldn’t you think that if you are sending down angels to give a concert
Even if it's a short one
You would think that the angels would sing at least to the whole village of Bethlehem
But no, it's the lowly outcast the despised
Why would the angels come to shepherds?
Luke 2:8-12 - In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.”
One biblical scholar (R. Kent Hughes) adds some insight.
He says, “According to the Mishnah [the writings of great Jewish rabbis], shepherds were under a ban. They were regarded as thieves. The only people lower than shepherds at that particular time in Jewish history were lepers. Scholars speculate that the only reason the flocks were so close in was because these men were keeping the sacrificial animals for the temple”
There was the unbelievable appearance of a real angel to shepherds.
In the eyes of many, an angel would never appear to a shepherd.
Shepherds would seldom be found praising and worshipping God; as a result, they were looked upon as anything but worshippers.
Their reputation was lowly at best, and religious people snubbed and ignored them.
They were despised because they were unable to attend services and to keep the ceremonial laws of washing and cleansing.
Their flocks just kept them too busy.
What a beautiful foretaste of the salvation to come:
God gave the first message of His Son to common shepherds, those looked upon as sinners.
But that's the pattern in the Christmas event isn't it
If you're familiar with it
Joseph is not a king, he's a Carpenter
Mary isn't from the upper class, she's the lowly commoner
Bethlehem surely isn't Rome
A lowly barn outside and overcrowded inn isn't the Ritz
So don't get used to reading over the part of scripture
Don't let that grow old
I think part of the wonder of Christmas is that the one the world is not worthy of came to those who have never felt worthy.
The angel's appearance was that of splendor and glory.
The angel's message was one of reassurance and good news.
He proclaimed the Messiah's birth and charged the shepherds to visit the child.
He gave them a sign: they would find the babe lying in a manger.
The Savior was coming to call sinners to repentance; therefore, the first announcement of His coming was given to sinners.
“And Jesus answered them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:31-32)“
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29)
Think about this….
If our greatest need would have been information, God would have sent an educator
If our greatest need would have been technology, God would have sent a scientist
If our greatest need have been finances, God would have sent a financial advisor
But since our greatest need is forgiveness, he sent us a savior
Look at verse 14 again “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
How timely is his peace
Just the sound of that word sort of invites us to take a deep breath
Peace is one of the most common refrains of the Christmas season and yet it's one of the most elusive realities isn't it
I mean conflicts rage
Families or fractured friendships are strained
Hearts are heavy
That's one of the reasons that the Angels song is so appealing to us.
This simple, short melody - reminds us that the gift Jesus offers
PEACE is so hard to find in this world
It's the very gift that we so desperately need
But notice in the scripture, that peace is connected to Jesus
It's conditional
It's linked to the favor of God to whom his favor rests
Now the Jews have a word that many of us have probably heard “Shalom”
Shalom has two meanings
The first describes perfect serenity and happiness and contentment and joy that's rooted in a right relationship with God
The second meaning of the word addressed the need for right relationships with others
It had to do with fellowship and goodwill among men
But to have the second one with others you had to have the first one with God
In other words - the peace of God is always conditional
It's conditioned upon a right relationship with God that comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ
That's the one on whom his favor rests
So, if I want peace in me and I want peace with others
listen closely - I've got to start with being at peace with God and in a right relationship with Jesus Christ the Prince of peace
If you are in conflict with others, it's because you’re in conflict with yourself
Which generally points to you being in conflict with God
So to get it right – You have to be right here (POINT TO HEART)
To be right out there (OPEN ARMS – Point to People)
That's what we're talking about in this peace connection
Real Peace comes from first of all being at peace with God through our relationship with Jesus Christ
If there's no Jesus, There’s no peace
But if you know Jesus - You know peace
And when you know peace
You know that there is nothing that's going to happen today that you and God can't handle together
By the way, have you ever noticed in the Christmas account that all the people who have troubled hearts
They are all people who are struggling with peace
I mean did ever notice that Joseph was troubled when finding out his fiancé was pregnant
Mary was troubled when the Angel visits her and explains the incredible circumstances surrounding her pregnancy
Mary and Joseph are troubled even more when they discover there is a contract out on Jesus’ life, and they had to escape to Egypt for a while
The Bible even says Jesus himself was a man of sorrows
He knew trouble and some of you right now maybe you know that
Right now, in your life and what's going you are having troubles
Maybe your health is sliding, or depression is lingering
or the biopsy was malignant
or you have a child that's breaking your heart
or maybe you've buried a loved one
maybe you've discovered your best friend was really not a friend at all
There's 1001 different reasons and things that are disrupting our peace this Christmas
But if you're in Christ
You hold on to peace because your future hangs on a promise
Real peace is knowing this the pain in my life will not outlast God 's plan for my life that's real peace
Romans 8:18 says “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
God takes life’s broken pieces and gives us unbroken peace
It's all there for the taking we just need to receive it
Verse 11 says it's for all people
Not just the good enough, not the deserving, not those who are worthy
It’s for ALL people
I mean think about it
God sends a choir of angels to serenade a ragtag group of herdsmen who perhaps are wearing all the clothes they own on their back and the smell of sheep fills the cool night air
For over 2000 years these bewildered shepherds have been honored every Christmas
But you don't find their staffs in any museum
They have no writings in a library
We don’t even know their names
They are simple, common, and nameless
If you've ever wondered if you were important enough for God to notice
Just remember….
The gospel is for everyone, but it is readily accepted by those who understand they have a void and a spiritual need in their lives.
We can see ourselves in the shepherds.
Because….
Application Point: In our darkest times, Christ brings us hope by being born and destined to die for the sins of humanity.
We were in our lowest state as sinners, and the good news came delivering a message of hope and restoration that can only be found in the person of Christ—whom we celebrate in this wonderful season.
ALTER CALL
PRAYER
CONGREGATIONAL SCRIPTURE READING - LUKE 10:2
BENEDICTION