THE HYMNS OF ADVENT
THE GLORIA IN EXCELSIS – THE SONG OF THE ANGELS
In the name + of Jesus.
What makes angels sing? When we encounter angels throughout the Bible, they are usually sent to deliver a message. They speak words of instruction, such as when the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him to not be afraid to take Mary to be his wife. They issue words of warning, such as when the angels came to Sodom to guide Lot and his family out of the city so that they would not be destroyed with it. Occasionally, God sends an angel to deliver his saints from peril, such as the angel who preserved Daniel in the lions’ den or the angel who brought Peter out of prison so that he would not be martyred by Herod. We even hear about angels who are sent out to put the wicked to death, such as was done with the Egyptians at the Passover or with the large Assyrian army which had surrounded Hezekiah in Jerusalem.
So when we encounter the angels in the
Scriptures, they are delivering a message or protecting the righteous or
slaying the wicked. But they don’t sing
very often. So, what makes angels
sing?
The first time the angels sang was at
Creation. When the Lord interrogated
Job, he asked, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you
know! Or who stretched the line upon
it? On what were its bases sunk, or who
laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and
all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7) God’s creation gave the angels a reason to
sing.
We also know that the angels sing in the presence of God. Both Isaiah and the apostle John received a
glimpse of that. Here is what Isaiah
witnessed. “Above (the Lord)
stood the seraphim. Each had six
wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with
two he flew. And one called to
another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of
hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!’” (Isaiah 6:2-3) Both
Isaiah and John state that the angels called this out to one another. Whether they sing, chant, or shout, being in
the presence of the glory and majesty of the Triune God is reason to stand in
awe and to make a joyful noise to the Lord.
The angels’ most famous hymn, however, came
when the Lord joined himself to our human race.
When the Lord entered our world, he emptied himself of majesty, of
power, of glory, and even of immortality. The Lord humbled himself, but the angels exalted
him above all things. They declared that
God’s salvation has come to mankind, and they sang: “Glory
to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom
he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14)
We are right to take our cue from the
angels as we consider our reasons for offering up our songs of praise. If God is to be praised, there ought to be
particular reasons for it. Now, to be
sure, there are a myriad of reasons to be in awe of God. He is almighty. He is eternal. He is holy.
But if we focus on these attributes, our God seems no different than
what is confessed of Allah, Vishnu, the sun-god Re, Zeus, or Baal. Surely we have better reasons to sing than God
is awesome and almighty. If we praise
God because he is awesome, how will that comfort us when we are sad? If we sing to God because he is almighty, we
will wonder why he does not use his might when we are hurting. If we praise God because he is eternal and
immortal, will we be encouraged when we are dying and our time is running out?
What
makes the angels sing? It is for more
than the general majesty of God. The angels
respond to a particular action that shows and bestows God’s grace. Ironically, the angels praise God for a grace
that does not benefit them! The angels
are not in need of mercy since they do not sin.
The angels don’t need to be delivered from a dying world of sorrows
since they dwell in the perfect glories of heaven. The angels do not need comfort because they always
know peace. They do not need
encouragement because they always delight in doing God’s bidding. What makes the angels sing? It is because God has been gracious to you.
The angel hosts assembled at a field
outside of Bethlehem and sang, “Glory
to God in the highest!” (Luke 2:14)
Why was God worthy of such glory?
For the very reason the angel had announced to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for
all the people. For unto you
is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who
is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) Glory
to God in the highest! For he has sent a
Savior to all mankind—a Savior to take away the sins of the world, a Savior to
rescue you from a world ruled by death, a Savior to silence all the accusations
of the devil against you, a Savior who will restore God’s created order so that
you will be forever free from sadness, illness, loneliness, hopelessness, and
every form of wickedness. Glory to God in
the highest—not because the angels need this, but because you do, and
especially because God has been pleased to provide this for you.
While angels sing
praises and proclaim good news, it is God himself who comes to provide the salvation
you need. God does not delegate this to
anyone. “For unto you is born
this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.” (Luke 2:11) Glory to God in
the highest! For the Lord himself has
come for you. The Lord himself has
become one with you. It is God who comes
to take up your cause, to live for you in innocence, to die for you under the
divine curse, and the destroy the power of death by his resurrection for
you. The angels marvel at the love that
God has for sinners, that he would endure all of this to save you. Glory to God in the highest! God has become a man to save mankind. He is pleased to do it, and the angel choirs
sing and rejoice because of it.
“Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he
is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) Thanks
to the Savior whom God sends, there is no one on earth who should be without
God’s peace. Jesus took upon himself every
sin of every sinner, and endured the full wrath of God in order to make the
full payment for sin. Therefore, the
proclamation of “Peace on earth” is not peace limited to a few, but peace
declared to all, secured for all, and intended for all. This is why the angel made it clear that it
is “good news of great joy that will be for
all the people.” (Luke 2:10) God has sent a Savior who reconciles the
whole world to himself. Sinners are forgiven. The wicked have been redeemed. The enemies of God have been reconciled. Instead of damnation, peace is
proclaimed. It is undeserved, unearned,
and even unasked for. God gives it
anyway. What grace is demonstrated to a
sinful world! Even the angels are amazed
by it and cannot help but sing for joy!
What makes the
angels sing? Not only that God has done
all that is necessary to save you, but also that you yourself have been
saved. The Lord Jesus has made the payment
for the sins of all, but only those who believe benefit from it. Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved. Peace is forfeited only by those
who do not believe. Therefore,
the good news of great joy goes out to all people so that they might hear it,
believe it, and be saved by it.
What makes the angels
sing? When God brings a sinner into his
grace, the angels sing. For this is what
the Lord says: “I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner
who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7) That does not mean that the angels no longer rejoice
over you; it means that you rejoice along with them—with angels and archangels
and all the company of heaven. As Jesus comes
to us in Holy Communion, we sing the song of heaven: “Holy, holy, holy Lord God
of heavenly hosts; heaven and earth are full of your glory.” And heaven sings with us, “Hosanna in the
highest! Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord.” We join our song together
because God is good, and in particular because God is good to us and saves us.
What makes the angels
sing? God’s goodness. The angels sang for joy when God created the
heavens, the earth, and everything in them.
All these things God created for you.
They were all undeserved, unearned, and unasked for. God did it anyway, because God delights in
you and wants to bless you.
What makes the angels sing? God’s grace. God joined himself to his creation to make you a new creation. He has destined to receive a new heaven and a new earth. And when Jesus comes again to deliver you to this renewed, restored, and righteous creation, the angels will accompany him. They will sing his praises, and we will join them. Everlasting peace is given. The Savior has come. Glory to God in the highest!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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