Luke 2:13,14 Singing Angels
“Suddenly a great army of heaven’s angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom he is pleased’” (GNT).
It wasn’t a solo; it was a choir, an angel choir, a large one at that—“a great army of heaven’s angels.” When we think of angels, we often picture them as beautiful benevolent creatures who float through the air with ease. Or, we think of angels as the warrior angels described in the Bible. When we join them together, we have a fantastic choir, every musical part sung with grace and power in full praise of our Lord. In this Scripture, the angel choir of fantastic beauty and outstanding musical talent sang of “Glory to the newborn King.” I’ve tried to imagine this choir of angels, and I am certain that all my imaginings fall far short of the actual choir. They didn’t sing in a stunning music hall, and they didn’t sing to an audience of affluent patrons who could afford expensive theater tickets. No, this amazing choir sang to a group of shepherds, the plain hard workers of the countryside.
Even though they sang to this small group of laborers, the song of “Glory to the newborn King” is for all of mankind from that day forward. They sang of the blessedness of all of mankind, for we have all had our sins forgiven by this baby born of a virgin. He came so that all nations can be joyful in His message of peace and forgiveness. “Christ the everlasting Lord” became one of us, a human being, in order to bring “light and life” to each of us. He laid His “glory by” and was “born that men no more may die.” He was “Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.” So it is right and fitting that the angels should sing, “Glory to the newborn King.”
This event that took place quietly in a small town, the birth of our Lord—our Savior–was not noted by anyone but a small group of shepherds that evening. But it has grown to be a tumultuous cry to all mankind: “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28 NKJV). That message is sung to us by a choir of One, our Lord and Savior, Jesus, who was born quietly in Bethlehem that extraordinary night.