Hark the Herald Angels Sing Glory to the New Born King

DAY SIX – HARK THE HERALD ANGELS SING

Over 2,000 years have passed since Mary and Joseph made the grueling journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.  It was not a journey Mary wanted to take at 9 months pregnant. I’m sure this was probably not the way she imagined it would be and it would not be the only unwanted journey Mary would have to take.

Other journeys Mary would have to take

A short time after Jesus’ birth, Herod would try to kill her child, and she and Joseph would take the infant Jesus and flee to Egypt as refugees. Thirty-three years later, there would be another journey she would take with her son, this time down the Via Dolorosa as she followed him to Calvary.

He is with you always

 Often life is filled with journeys we don’t want to take.  Things don’t always happen the way we imagine or hope they will, but in the midst of every valley and crooked place, God is there to help us. Hark the Herald Angels Glory to the newborn King.  Jesus came from heaven to earth to bring us hope and help. He is with you always – He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)

It’s all about Jesus

The Christmas hymn “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” is about the moment the sky was filled with Angels singing of the newborn King – Jesus the Messiah.  The whole song is jam-packed with the Gospel. It shows why Jesus came, for whom He came, Who He was, and How He would reconcile us with the father. The song is all about Jesus – the savior of the world.

The Gospel of Luke 2:13-14 tells us of how Angels sang on that glorious night, “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others-the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Glory to the newborn King

What a moment it must have been to experience the sky filled with angels praising the newborn King! When we think of God’s amazing gift of a Savior on that night, we should glorify and praise God, just as the shepherds did.  Peace on earth – glory to the newborn king!

Here is the rest of the lyrics for the first verse:

Hark! the herald angel’s sing
“Glory to the newborn king!”
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
joyful all ye nations rise
join the triumph of the skies
with the angelic host proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
hark! the herald angel’s sing
“Glory to the newborn king!” 

This time of the year, most of all of the world, every culture, stops what they are doing and are compelled to turn its gaze toward a baby in a manger, a newborn King.  People, Christian or not, have on their lips and in their heads filled with the message of the Gospel as they sing and listen to Christmas songs during this season.

As you sing carols this Christmas, take the time to think about the message of the songs and what they mean. Consider the words you are singing and the truths they proclaim about the Savior you are worshiping. As we do so, we can all join Wesley in saying, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Mary and Joseph are almost there.