The Words Within

We sing so many hymns without ever hearing the words. I was going to look at a few hymns to hopefully open that message up. Tonight, I wanted to look at “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”. “It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.” The angel's message was called ‘that glorious song of old’ because it had long been prophesied. The message of peace comes from our Heavenly King. The silence was torn open with joyful song. The next verse, “Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains, They bend on hovering wing, And ever o’er its Babel sounds The blessèd angels sing.” The image is of angels dividing the clouds or sky to enter the earth, described as sad and lowly plains. The precious message the angels bring of peace and hope still float over this weary and lost world. Next, we read, “And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing!” A powerful picture is painted of a fallen world that is being crushed by sin, and they struggle with each step to find meaning and rest. As the angels sing, we are invited to pause, to listen, and to rejoice in our Savior. Lastly, we have, “For lo!, the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing.” The prophets have declared the coming of the Messiah, a king who will restore Israel. The peace that is being declared is not necessarily an earthly peace, or rest from troubles, but rather a spiritual peace. This peace is not found in sacrifices or works on our part, but through the child whom the angels are declaring. When we finally recognize who Jesus is and what He did, we return the praise. Father, thank You for sending Your son into a dark and sin filled world. May the world know the peace Jesus won for us. Amen We sing so many hymns without ever hearing the words. I was going to look at a few hymns to hopefully open that message up. Tonight, I wanted to look at “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”. “It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, goodwill to men, From heaven’s all-gracious King.” The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.” The angel's message was called ‘that glorious song of old’ because it had long been prophesied. The message of peace comes from our Heavenly King. The silence was torn open with joyful song. The next verse, “Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O’er all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains, They bend on hovering wing, And ever o’er its Babel sounds The blessèd angels sing.” The image is of angels dividing the clouds or sky to enter the earth, described as sad and lowly plains. The precious message the angels bring of peace and hope still float over this weary and lost world. Next, we read, “And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, Whose forms are bending low, Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps and slow, Look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. O rest beside the weary road, And hear the angels sing!” A powerful picture is painted of a fallen world that is being crushed by sin, and they struggle with each step to find meaning and rest. As the angels sing, we are invited to pause, to listen, and to rejoice in our Savior. Lastly, we have, “For lo!, the days are hastening on, By prophet bards foretold, When with the ever-circling years Comes round the age of gold When peace shall over all the earth Its ancient splendors fling, And the whole world give back the song Which now the angels sing.” The prophets have declared the coming of the Messiah, a king who will restore Israel. The peace that is being declared is not necessarily an earthly peace, or rest from troubles, but rather a spiritual peace. This peace is not found in sacrifices or works on our part, but through the child whom the angels are declaring. When we finally recognize who Jesus is and what He did, we return the praise. Father, thank You for sending Your son into a dark and sin-filled world. May the world know the true peace Jesus won for us. Amen