December 8, 2019

SING NOEL: HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING
December 08, 2019
Scott Bullman

 

What part of “the Magic of Christmas” do you enjoy the most? Do you have any traditions in your home that were begun by your parents or grandparents?

Open: As we continue our Christmas series today, we will focus on a carol by one of the most prolific hymn-writers of all time—Charles Wesley. “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” has been sung and loved by millions of people for almost three-hundred years. Today we’ll also examine the subject of angels, who had an awesome role of announcing the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Key Verse: Luke 2:13-14: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace good will toward men.’”

Christmas Carol: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley

What the Bible teaches about Angels:

Angels are CREATED beings.

  • Read Colossians 1:16. How does this verse validate the truth that angels are created beings?
  • Why is it said there is a fixed number of angels? (Read Matthew 22:30).

Angels are SPIRIT beings.

  • Read Psalm 104:1-4. Besides Spirits, what other title do angels have in this Psalm? Are angels always invisible? Could they also have other roles when they would be visible? (Read Hebrews 13:2 and Genesis 19:1).  Angels are INNUMERABLE.
  • Read Revelation 5:11. Does someone recall the meaning of the Greek word that is translated “myriads” in this verse? How is that like the word “infinity”?  Why can they not be counted?

Angels have PERSONALITIES, with Intellect, Will, and Emotions.

  • Read Ezekiel 28:17. God is speaking of Lucifer in this verse (and passage). What confirms that he has Intellect
  • Read Isaiah 14:12-13. What statements show Lucifer (the Fallen Angel) has a will?
  • Read Luke 2:13 and 1 Peter 1:12. What words show the angels have emotions?

There are RANKS of angels.

  • There are two Archangels listed in Scripture; who are they? Does anyone remember any of the times they were used by God?
  • Read Ezekiel 10:5 and Isaiah 6:1-3. What are the two ranks of angels in this passage?
  • Read Rev. 4:6. What is the rank or category of angels in this verse?
  • Read Matt. 18:10 and Heb. 1:14. What job do these Guardian angels do?

Angels are POWERFUL beings.

  • Read Joel 3:11. What is their term in this verse?
  • Read Dan. 10:12-14. Why had this angel been delayed in coming to Daniel? Who had helped him? What other title did we hear for Michael (under “Ranks”)?
  • Read Matt. 28:1-4. What did this angel do?

Angels are FUNCTIONAL beings, with Purposes.

  • Read Rev. 4:8. What is their function in this verse? Read Luke 15:10. In this verse, what are the angels doing? Why are they filled with joy (go back to “Personalities” for an answer).  Here are some of their purposes: They worship God (Rev. 4:8); They observe the people of God (Luke 15:10); They comfort God’s people (1 Kings 18 and 19—Elijah); They inform and instruct (Luke 1:19, 26; Matt. 1:20, 2:13, 19; Luke 2:9).

Christ the SAVIOR is Born:

Charles Wesley was zealous to get the correct doctrine and theology in his hymns. Below are some of the phrases he used to write the beautiful carol, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”, and the Scripture verses that he used to validate the statements. As this has been quite a lengthy study, consider letting someone read each phrase, sharing the verse and any comments.

  • “Mild He lays His glory by”: Read Philippians 2:6-7. What does this verse tell us about Jesus Christ?
  • “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see”: Read Colossians 2:9. Can someone explain this verse? (None of us can understand it well, so we must take it by faith!)
  • “Pleased as Man with men to dwell”: Read John 1:14. Will someone please paraphrase this verse?
  • “God and sinners reconciled”: Read 2 Cor. 5:17-19.
  • “Light and life to all He brings”: Read John 1:4.
  • “Born that man no more may die”: Heb. 2:9.
  • “Born to give them second birth”: John 3:3

 

Close:

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

Can you imagine a mind so productive that you could write ten lines of beautiful poetry each day of your life for stanzas in hymns exalting God, His Son, His creation, and His Godhead? Charles Wesley—a man with a human ability like any of us—used his gifts to not only write songs that would last many centuries and touch many millions of people, but he also preached Christ crucified, leading men into that new birth that he wrote about, introducing them to the Savior he loved.

Christmas has a beauty that is of another world. No matter the chaos, the weather, the crises, or the health issues, somehow those things can get set aside for a little bit of time in order to experience that wonder that the season brings. Ideally, we would all have family, food, a light snow, and abundant love inside every home. However, we know that is not the case. Simply listen to conversations as you shop and you will hear the sadness, the grief, or the anger that people carry when their families or their lives have not been given over to the saving grace that Jesus provides generously. As we read the words of this old glorious carol, we remind ourselves that He was in heaven from eternity past, He created the wonder of earth—“without Him, nothing was made that was made”(John 1:3b)—then came as a Baby to His creation. There, He would be raised as a boy, grow to be a young adult, preach and do miracles for three years, then be killed in a most atrocious manner by those He came to save. Hanging on a cross made from a tree, He was separated from His Father in order to pay for the sins of the world. But that all changed when the third morning came and the stone had been rolled back from the opening of the Tomb—where the folded napkin lay proclaiming “It is finished!” He had risen from death, was seen by people for forty days, and now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high, interceding for us, and waiting for the word to “Go! Get Your children!” Do you know Him? Do you call Him “Father”?

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