How many of you pay attention to all the little type at the bottom of the hymns? Turn to page 240 and look at the bottom of the page. See them down there? They’re there to give you a little bit of the history of the hymn. If you look at the bottom of “Hark! 5he Herald Angels Sing,” it says that the words were written by Charles Wesley in 1734.
When you speak about the history of Methodism, John Wesley’s name immediately comes to the fore. He is considered the founder of the Methodist movement … which is only partially true. His brother, Charles, was also an important and influential guiding force in the birth and development of our denomination.
Like his brother, John, Charles was an ordained Anglican or Episcopalian priest. Upon his conversion, Charles Wesley immediately began writing hymns … “each one packed with doctrine,” says Professor and Pastor Robert J. Morgan. “All of them exhibiting strength and sensitivity … both beauty and theological brawn” (Then Sings My Soul, 2011, p. 49). As we shall see, Wesley knew how to pack a hymn with theology. As a preacher, he wanted his listeners to hear the truth of God’s Word. As a hymn writer, he endeavored to present those truths in a memorable format.
Charles Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns over the course of his life. He wrote constantly. Even on horseback, his mind was constantly filled with new songs. He often stopped at houses along the way to ask for a pen and some ink so he could jot down an idea or a tune before he forgot it.
Out of all the hymns that Charles Wesley wrote … out of all the hymns we have today … hymnologists … people who study and preserve hymns … consider Charles Wesley’s hymn “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” to be among the top three hymns ever written. You’ll be relieved to know that the version that we have in our hymnal has only three stanzas. Charles Wesley’s original has 10. Also, Wesley intended for the hymn to be sung in a slow, somber manner.
Now, Wesley didn’t mind people singing his hymns … that’s why he wrote them. But he had a real pet peeve when it came to people “tinkering” with his work. And yet, that’s exactly what happened to “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” … both to the words and to the music.
The original first stanza that Wesley wrote went like this:
Hark, how all the welkin rings
Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconciled!
Joyful all ye nations rise
join the triumph of the skies;
universal nature sin,
“Christ the Lord is born today”
Do any of you know what a “welkin” is? If a welkin “rings”, you might assume that it’s some kind of bell or musical instrument, right? “Welkin” means the “vault of Heaven.” When Wesley proclaims that the “welkin” or “vault of Heaven” rings, he is speaking of the totality of the inhabited universe giving vocal and musical glory to Jesus … from top to bottom … from the Highest to the lowest … the totality of the universe … from God’s throne to His creation … ringing with the songs of God’s glory. What an incredible, powerful, moving picture that conjures up, amen?
You’ll notice at the bottom of the hymn that it says: “Alt. by George Whitefield 1753.” That means: “Altered by George Whitefield, 1753.” George Whitefield was a close friend of the Wesley brothers and a very famous and influential pastor and evangelist. When he published Charles Wesley’s hymn in his collection of hymns in 1753, he took it upon himself to change a few words in the first stanza to make it sing better. Care to guess what he changed it to? “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” … which was the title of the hymn. He also changed the end of the first stanza to read: “… with th’angelic host proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Now … at the bottom of the hymn it also says that the music for this hymn was written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. Actually, Mendelssohn wrote the music but not for this hymn. It was the second chorus of a cantata that Mendelssohn wrote in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg and his invention of the printing press.
You’ll also see another name after Mendelssohn’s name: “Arr. By William Cummings, 1856.” (“Arranged by William Cummings, 1856.”) Like Wesley Mendelssohn didn’t like his work “tinkered” with. He strictly warned that his composition was to be used only in a secular manner. However, in 1856, after both Wesley and Mendelssohn were dead, Dr. William Cummings ignored both composers’ wishes and joined the lyrics that Wesley wrote … with George Whitefield’s editorial changes … to Mendelssohn’s music … and the result was this beautiful, lively, gospel-centered carol that we have been singing ever since.
As we are about to see, this hymn has a remarkable theological depth and richness not often found in carols. Remember … Wesley liked to pack his hymns with theology and “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is perhaps one of the best examples of that. And … for the last time … I want to draw your attention to the little print at the bottom of the page. In parentheses you’ll see the scriptural reference to “Lk. 2:8-14,” which means that Luke 2:8-14 serves as the Biblical basis or inspiration for “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.”
[Read Luke 2:8-14]
This hymn begins with an exhortation … a command … a call to action: “Hark!” “Hark!” … “Listen!” … “Listen to the angels singing!” Listen carefully to these heavenly messengers. Listen to the message they bring. Pay attention! The message isn’t just for the shepherds out tending their sheep that night, says Wesley. The message is for us as well. “Hark!” says Wesley, “listen … they have a message for you … a very important message from God!” They speak of the birth of a king … “Glory to the new-born King.” But not just any king! They herald the birth of the King of kings … the birth of the King of Heaven.
God’s plan of redemption revolves around three main events or processes if it is to overcome or repair the broken relationship between God and humanity. These events are: incarnation … atonement … and reconciliation. And each person of the Trinity brings their own unique aspect to the process. The love of God flows from the Father to His creation. Jesus embodies the grace of God through the incarnation and the atonement. And the Holy Spirit draws us into the fellowship of love that is the Trinity.
Shadows of this plan have been hinted at throughout the Old Testament. But now … with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem … we begin to see the reality taking place. Up until this time, God spoke to Israel through human prophets. But here, at this critical point in salvation history, the word of God is delivered by a supernatural being … a holy angel. And since it’s being announced by angels, who speak to us with heavenly authority, we should “hark!” We should “listen” … amen? “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconciled!” A pretty important, major thing to harken to, don’t you think?
In verse 10, the angel says to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid; for see -- I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people. To you is born this day in the city of David a savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
“Do not be afraid.” The first words that God has His messenger say to humanity after the birth of Jesus is: “You no longer need to be afraid.” Granted the shepherds had just received an almighty scare, but there is a deeper message in that statement. Up until this point in human history, we needed to be afraid. “Do not be afraid.” A welcome contrast to God’s words “Be afraid” echoing in Adam and Eve’s ears and heart as an angel with a flaming sword escorted them out of the Garden of Eden.
Because of our sin, because of our self-will, and because of our determination to live independently of God, we have been living under the curse of the Law … which leads to God’s righteous judgment … which, in turn, leads to spiritual death. “Okay,” says God, “you want to be like me … knowing good from evil … go right ahead! Give it a shot! Now … in order to live a pure and holy life, here are the things you need to do … and keep doing … without my help … if you want to achieve that pure and holy life on your own.
“Good luck with that, by the way. I can do it … I do it all the time. Being pure and holy comes as naturally to me as breathing come to you. But without my help, you are doomed to fail … miserably.”
“Hark!” cry the angels. That time has come! You can not make yourselves pure and holy, so God has stepped down off His throne and He is going to do it for you! “Glory to God in highest,” the angels sing, “and on earth, peace among those whom He favors” (v. 14).
History is about to witness the extraordinary lengths to which God will go in order to restore our broken relationship with Him. Despite our repeated rejections of God’s overtures, God’s commitment to us remains unshaken. When God decides to rescue humanity from its sinfulness, He comes as a “new-born king” … as a baby in a manger.
What an appropriate way for God to reveal Himself to humanity. No press releases. No media attention. No www.harkjesusishere.com. No powerful demonstrations of shock and awe. Rather … a helpless babe in a manger. But this is to be Jesus’ modus operandi throughout His earthly ministry, isn’t it? He will trade His throne for an animal feed trough. He will trade His crown of glory for a crown of thorns. He will trade his scepter for a cross. And He does all this to prove that He loves everyone of us and wants to redeem every last one of us … if possible. If you read Revelation, He holds out hope and the possibility of His children coming back to Him up until the very last second.
“Peace on earth and mercy mild ….” These angles … these heavenly messengers heralding the arrival of this new-born king … bring a message of peace, not war … a message of mercy, not condemnation or judgment. This peace and mercy are the result of God and sinners being reconciled through the birth … and later, the death … of this new-born king!
And how should we … how should the nations … respond to what the angels herald? They should rise up and joyfully join with the angels in proclaiming “Christ … our Redeemer … our Rescuer … out Savior … is born in Bethlehem!” When someone comes into the presence of an earthly king, you would first bow … avert your eyes … but then you would rise and sing the king’s praises: “O great and kind and powerful and gracious King … a blessing to his people.” We should do no less in the presence of God … the King of all kings. And all the nations of this world, in recognition of this new-born king, should rise and join with these angelic heralds in singing His praises!
I don’t know if you noticed what Wesley did, but at the very opening of the hymn he has the angels singing to us: “Glory to the new-born King!” They are heralding the good news to us. In the refrain, however, Wesley repeats: “Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the new-born king!” … only now, instead of the angels calling to us, we are now joining with the angels in proclaiming, “glory to the new-born King!” We have heard the angels’ message and we are now proclaiming that our hearts and our lives are now giving glory to God and proclaiming their message to the world. We are the ones now going about proclaiming: “Hark! Listen everyone … the angels are singing, and we have joined with them in shouting and singing and giving praise to this new-born King.”
The next two stanzas are almost wholly taken up with the person and work of this “new-born King.” The second stanza starts with “Christ.” “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. It’s a title … a description of who He is. “Christ is another way of describing Jesus as the “Messiah.”
This “Christ” … this “Messiah” … is adored by “highest Heaven.” When I hear that … that Jesus was adored by “highest Heaven” … I picture the Apostle John’s description of the “highest heaven” in Revelation 4: “… and there in Heaven stood a throne (v.2) … around the throne were 24 thrones … around the throne, and each side of the throne, are four living creatures” (v.6) … Day and night without ceasing they sing (v. 8) … And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to the One who is seated on the throne, … the 24 elders fall before the One who is seated on the throne and worship the One … who was and is and is to come” (v. 8-10). “Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord; late in time behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb” (stanza 2a).
Late in time doesn’t mean that Jesus was late in showing up … that He somehow missed His appointment. It means that late in time … after the passing of many centuries … at the right time … He stepped into our time … into our world … as the offspring of a virgin’s womb. He came into the world not in our time or according to our purpose or plans but in a way that fits God’s perfect and extraordinary plans. To be born in flesh, He had to be born in the way and manner that flesh is born … in the way that we are born. But we must never forget that what was born in flesh was extraordinary … the Godhead … the Triune God. When you look upon this new-born king, you look upon the fullness of Gods’ deity. This new-born king … this new-born child … is veiled in flesh. Born of a human woman, yes. Born in the usual human way, yes. Taking on flesh, yes. But within that child resides the full deity of God in bodily form.
And when we see, when we consider this “incarnate deity,” guess what? We again break out in praise! Just as He is being hailed and adorned by angels and divine, holy beings in the highest heaven. “… pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus, OUR Emmanuel” (stanza 2b; emphasis mine). “… pleased with us to dwell …”. In 2nd Samuel 7, King David asked God if He wanted him to build a temple for Him. And, in essence, God explained to him: “David! While my people, Israel, were wandering around in the wilderness on their way to the Promised Land … did I ever ask them to build me a temple? What I asked was for them to make me a tent … a beautiful, expensive, elaborate tent … but a tent, nonetheless. Why? Because my people lived in tents. They were nomads wandering in the wilderness and, in order for me to dwell among them, I had to live in a tent like a nomad and wander with them.”
“Hark! the herald angels sing” … The new-born king is Jesus … Emmanuel … born of a virgin’s womb! He comes and dwells with us as a human, as the God-man … fully inhabiting our experience … living among us as one of us. And again, we tell the world to “hark!” … to “listen” … as the angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King” … the King of Heaven who has taken on flesh and now dwells among us.
“Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace.” This refers back to Isaiah’s prophesy: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us. Authority rests on his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). And Wesley adds another title from Malachi 4:2: “But for you who revere my name the Sun of Righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.” “Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace, Hail the Sun of Righteousness” very neatly and effectively remind us that this child … this new-born king … as the fulfillment and evidence of the truth of God’s prophecy through His spokespersons Isaiah and Malachi.
“Light and life to all He brings.” Echoes of John 1:4: “What has come into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.” And then again, echoes of Malachi: “risen with healing in his wings.”
“Mild He lay his glory by.” Wow! In six words Wesley sums up what it took the Apostle Paul 56 words to say in Philippines 2:6-8.
Wesley then ends his hymn by giving us three reasons why Jesus was born: “born that we no more may die … born to raise us from the earth … born to give us second birth” (stanza 3). Hark! Hark, my brothers and sisters. This … this right here … is the glory of the new-born King. Not just that He came into our world. Not just that He was born of a virgin’s womb. Not that He pleased to take on flesh, to become Emmanuel, and dwell among. He did all of this for one reason: The cross!
The cross. The place where “God and sinner” were reconciled: “… born that we no more may die … born to raise us from the earth … born to give us second birth.” All refer to the empty tomb … to Jesus’ resurrection … and the promise of eternal life … our eternal life … because of this new-born King … so that we will one day join with all the angels and heavenly host and sing our Redeeming Savior’s praises as He sits upon His throne in the “welkin” … the Highest Heaven …
“Holy, holy, holy …
The Lord God Almighty …
Who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power …
For you created all things, …
and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11).
“Glory to God in the Highest Heaven …
and on earth, peace among those whom He favors” (Luke 2:14).
Let us pray …
