Hark The Herald Angels Sing

TITLE: HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

SCRIPTURE: ST. LUKE 2:14

Although it would be a sin, and an act of rebellion against our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to pay the slightest adoration to the mightiest angel, who we view in this text, it would be an unkind act if we did not give to holy angels at a minimum a place in our heart. In fact, when we consider the character of angels and their many deeds of sympathy with men, and kindness towards them, it is hard to resist the impulse of love towards them.

The one incident in angelic history, to which our text refers, is enough to weld our hearts to them forever. How free from envy the angels were! I know they asked a question as recorded in PSALM 8:4-6 “WHAT IS MAN, THAT THOU ART MINDFUL OF HIM? AND THE SON OF MAN, THAT THOU VISITEST HIM? FOR THOU HAST MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, AND HAST CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOUR. THOU MADEST HIM TO HAVE DOMINION OVER THE WORKS OF THY HANDS; THOU HAST PUT ALL THINGS UNDER HIS FEET” - this was more a statement of acknowledgment than a probing question.

• Christ did not come from heaven to save their compatriots who followed Satan in his revolt against God

• Christ did not step down from His throne to die for them, but left them to be reserved in chains and darkness until the last great day

• Yet the angels did not envy men

• They did not think it beneath them to express their joy when they found him arrayed in the body of an infant

• They were free from pride

• They gladly sped from their bright seats above, to tell the shepherds the marvelous story of an Incarnate God

Amazingly enough, this passage involves shepherds — men who herded livestock for a living, who were at the very bottom of the social structure. You have heard people say, "she cusses like a sailor." In those days there was a saying, "he lies like a shepherd." Fairly or unfairly, the character of a shepherd was not highly regarded. Shepherds tended to be socially inept - hygienically challenged - culturally reviled.

• The work was dirty, smelly, and dangerous

• Shepherds were exposed to all the elements in all seasons

• Men who shepherded usually had no other work options

It's worth noting these angels did not bring the wonderful message of Christ’s birth to those who had influence. They did not appear to the –

• Wealthy

• Political

• Religious leaders

Instead, they came to the least significant - least respected - least likely people in the community. So when God's messenger said he came to bring good news to all people, he demonstrated it by starting at the bottom.

• First there was one angel (presumably Gabriel who appeared to Zechariah)

• Then he was joined in VS. 13 with "A GREAT COMPANY OF ANGELS"

• That phrase means "more than could be counted"

If we were to look at this event at ‘face value’ I believe we would agree it does not look that earth-shattering as a narrative -- a young couple have a child. So what, happens everyday.

• In the midst of a mass migration of people ordered by an empire seeking to maximize its profits – a baby was born

• Hardly front-page news

• No doubt many babies were born that night and there is sadly nothing new about the powerful exploiting the powerless

• A poor couple give birth to a baby in an obscure town in a distant land

• Granted, it was a son – hardly something to trouble the sleep of kings and emperors

But then…there were angels. An angel and a multitude of the heavenly host left their place in heaven and appeared in the skies over Bethlehem.

• The heavenly host had far been seen as God’s heavenly army ready to fight and do battle

• But on this unique night, for the only time recorded in the Bible, the heavenly host appear and people see them worshipping God

• The shepherds get a glimpse of heaven

The angels who announced the birth of Jesus were the same that were present at the creation of the heavens and earth.

• They had seen many a planet fashioned between the palms of Jehovah, and tossed by his eternal hands through the infinitude of space

• They had sung solemn songs over many a world which God had created

• They had often chanted "BLESSING AND HONOR, AND GLORY, AND MAJESTY, AND POWER, AND DOMINION, AND MIGHT, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITS ON THE THRONE," manifesting Himself in the work of creation