Sermon Tone Analysis

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