Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

A couple of weeks ago, I dug out the Amy Grant Christmas CD and have been listening to it ever since. There's a series of songs on the CD that I get stuck on and repeat them endlessly when I'm in the car by myself. Sometimes I do it when I'm not by myself and finally let the CD play through when or if someone comments on how many times they had to listen to the same song(s). Usually, when this happens I tell them to get their own car with a CD player, because I'm mature like that. 'Tis the season.

Moving along...

"Hark the Herald Angels Sing" is a great song that seems as if it is almost completely taken out of the scriptures. In fact, when I really think about the words, the song sounds like the musical version of Jesus’ miraculous birth and God’s plan of salvation that could only be fulfilled in Jesus‘ sacrificial death on the cross.

In Amy Grant’s version of the song, the soaring orchestral arrangement ushers in the last verse that helps me to envision God’s triumph and judgment over sin. The crescendo that builds from the beginning of the last verse until the plea of “build in us, thy humble home”, reminds me of a day that is coming; a day wherein the Prince of Peace will claim His own. A day when He will return, not as a baby in a manger, nor as a servant quietly and humbly riding on a donkey through the gates of Jerusalem to eventually assume His place on the cross, but a day when He will return in full majesty and glory, riding on the clouds of His creation. A day when every knee will bow in worship to the King.

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, is a song that goes far beyond the advent season. It helps me to remember the hope of God’s promise of eternal life. It is truly unfortunate that this song is only used at Christmas. The words are timeless, accurate and deeply worshipful if one considers everything that Christ has done for us.

The following thoughts and scripture references are what I think of when I sing these lyrics written by Charles Wesley.  My interpretation may not be what he intended with his prose and it may not be what you think of when you sing it.  I only offer my own thoughts in worshipful reverence to God.

Verse One
Hark the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

With angelic hosts proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
With angelic hosts proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Luke 2:10-14 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Verse Two
Mild he lays His glory by

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Born that man, no more may die

John 11:25 & 26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

Born to raise the sons of earth

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Born to give them second birth

John 3:1-15 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Veiled in flesh the godhead see

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Hail the incarnate Diety

Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

and also, Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Pleased as man, with men to dwell

Hebrew 2:11 For both he that sanctifieth (Jesus) and they that are sanctified (Christians) are all of one (God): for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,*

Pause for a moment and wrap your mind around the thought that Jesus, the perfect Son of God is not ashamed to call us, in our fallen and sinful state, His brother/sister!

Jesus our Immanuel
Pleased as man, with men to dwell

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Jesus our Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel means God with us and in Hebrews we read:

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Verse Three
Hail the Heaven born Prince of Peace

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Hail the sun of Righteousness

Psalm 71:19 Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

Jeremiah 33:15 In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

Light and life to all he brings

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Risen with healing in His wings

Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

Christ the highest Heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Come desire of nations, come

Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

Fix in us, thy humble home

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Come desire of nations, come
Fix in us, thy humble home. 

Amy Grant's version of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" (scroll down to the bottom of the page and turn off the playlist music)