The Angel's Song

Short songs are good songs. It's those short little songs or phrases of songs that seem to stick in our minds the longest. How about this one from kindergarten?

I'm a little teapot short and stout.

Here is my handle.

He is my spout.

When I get all steamed up,

hear me shout!

Tip me over, pour me out.

Advertisers and marketing experts know how powerful a short song is, too. Just try to keep those jingles out of your mind.  I dare you! These advertisers and marketers know that if they can get you to associate a positive or fun feeling with their product you are more likely to buy it someday. So, they pay thousands of dollars for people to come up with ingenious little songs to grab our attention and grab our pocket books.

We know that no better than during the Christmas shopping season.  On every radio station we can hear little songs jingle-jangling for our attention. Inside the stores we catch musical or lyrical phrases wanting to stick in our minds. It's enough to drive anyone crazy!  We can walk through what feels like mile of people, squeezing in and out of stores, bumping and striving for the perfect gifts those jingles told us we have to have. There are a thousand "Excuse me's"—some of them sincere, some of them not very sincere. A press of people everywhere can make us feel claustrophobic and frustrated.

I want you to remember that kind of feeling because that kind of human traffic was everywhere when Jesus was born. Luke 2:1-3 records that a census was being taken.  In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register.  Unlike our modern census that is taken with forms sent to us, the way a census was taken in those days was for everyone to return to their town of origin—where their family started.  Understanding the nomadic nature of humans, there were thousands upon thousands of people who had packed their bags and were heading for the town of their origin. Our airplanes were their horse-drawn wagons, our economy cars were their donkeys and feet. There would be people on the road, the hotels would be booked and restaurants would be full. People would be tired. There were a thousand "Excuse me's"—some of them sincere, some of them not very sincere. There was just a press of people everywhere.

In that press of people were the marketers and salesmen along the roads and in the city streets. Hungry for this great opportunity to make a buck, we can almost hear them singing out their little songs, "Peanuts, Cracker Jack!" Whatever their product was they knew that if they could find a distinctive song, the travelers might be attracted to their booth, their cart, their stand.

In that press of people there rode a young pregnant girl on the back of a donkey. A man, weary and worn from their journey, was carefully leading her through the crowds. He carried their belongings. She carried the Savior of the world.  Nine months earlier, God had sent an angel to tell her something.

Read Luke 1:26-38.

This was a rather quiet introduction of the Savior to the world. It was in introduction simply made between one of God's angels and a humble young woman.  I would imagine that there were only a few people after that who heard that Mary had been chosen by God to bear the Messiah.   Even fewer would really believe that this was promised Messiah, the One who was going to redeem the nation of Israel out of her troubles and bless the world through them. In the middle of the tumult of the census a good man and his beloved finance' were carrying into Bethlehem the final answer to all the deep problems of humanity.

None of the merchants singing out their short songs of commerce comprehended that that tired young woman was anyone more than another pocket of change into which they could dip. None of the other travelers parted the way so that they could walk comfortably through the streets as the dignitaries they really were. None of the inn keepers treated Mary and Joseph any differently than the hundreds of others who had arrived late and were desperate for shelter for the night.

When Mary and Joseph finally got settled into a corner of a barn, a stable full of animals and hay, it started. It started with groaning and crying. Mary's young body was contracting with the spasms women have had for centuries. There were no little songs in the stable in those hours. Most likely Joseph wasn't whistling a happy jingle as his finance' writhed in pain and pushed that squalling little baby onto the hay. The cows were chewing their cud. The chickens buried their heads under their wings in sleep. The sheep bleated to one another. But those were no songs.

Read Luke 2:6-7.

In Paul Gaugin’s “Birth of Christ” he depicted the birth scene with Mary sleeping exhausted while Joseph looks on at the baby. The cattle have turned their heads, just slightly curious to see what might be going on in their abode. And there she slept. No great music. No singing of little or long songs. There was just the stirring of the animals, an occasional cry from the baby, and Joseph rocking the infant in the night. No one seemed to be singing.

But someone was. In fact, not just someone, but thousands and thousands were singing. Somewhere in a world we have not yet touched or seen a short, powerful and jubilant song was being sung. In heaven God had announced the birth of his one and only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world. And the angels burst into song. This is that for which not only the Israelites, but the angels themselves had been waiting.

Angels, real ambassadors of God, had worked with him for thousands of human centuries to help and assist humanity. They had made comforting appearances to those languishing in prisons, those who had been sick, those who were at the point of despair, those who were overcome with fear, those who felt there was no hope. And each time they had brought the good news—God would help them, God would come to their aid, God would draw them out of deep trouble, declaring that God had heard their cries and prayers.  The angels, which are created beings different than us, had been working with God for a long time. They had seen the misery of people, had helped those who were victims of evil and wickedness. They had fought battles on behalf of God's people. And they, too, were looking forward with great anticipation to the arrival of the Messiah on earth—the promised One, whose work would begin the end of God's redemption plan.

God had just sent in the One who could settle the score and win the game. And the crowd in heaven went wild! This is what they had been waiting for, too!  They knew how deeply broken and grieved God's great heart had been over the despair and anguish in the world. They had seen his fury when evil people destroyed his creation. They had watched as his wrath was poured out against those who had set their hearts against him. They had participated in the battles with darkness that constantly arose.  And now—now—God had done what he promised he would do. God had promised to bring Someone into the world who would save people from their sins, who would give people a way out of their personal misery and into guilt-free lives, who would give assurance that they would not end up in the fires of hell if they would just love and follow him. And that Someone is Jesus Christ. Savior of the world. Messiah in the flesh. God for us and God with us.

And the angels couldn't help but sing. See how they broke through the walls of heaven with their song!

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

   Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

~Luke 2:8-15

This is a little song of the most magnificent proportions. Two lines hold the hope of the world. The heavenly host could not contain themselves. They burst through the sky and had to sing the good news.

Their little short song is a reflection of many truths.  We cannot save ourselves. Only God has the power to save us. And he has elected to do this. All glory to God, the highest God, God above all gods who is able to deliver and will deliver those who call out to him, who follow him and worship him alone. The angels sang glory to God.

And on earth there can be peace for everyone who finds favor with God. God finds favor with the humble. God finds favor with those who will not reject the truth and his ways. God finds favor with those who seek to be like him in kindness, in truth, in purity, in compassion, in holiness.

God's favor does not rest on those who oppose, deny or ignore him.  The angels did not appear to religious leaders, Herod or the Roman military that night.  This song is for those who accept Jesus Christ, believe in him, and worship him. One little song rang out the great message for the world. Peace is possible when you find favor with God through Jesus Christ. One little song still rings out that great message for the world.

Those of us who follow God can sing with the angels. We do sing with the angels! "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to everyone on whom his favor rests."

Did you know that you don't have to live in a personal hell of guilt and despair over the wrong things you have done? Did you know that you don't have to fear death and can live in hope of a future in heaven where there will be no more sighing, tears, or sorrow? Did you know that there is strength and wisdom from God for your every situation? If you don't know about this, the angels do. And they sing about it!

Did you know that God sent his one and only Son into the world, not to condemn this world, but to save the world through him? (John 3:16-17) Did you know that God loves and cherishes those who will leave their selfish, destructive and evil ways and follow him? Did you know that Jesus Christ loves you so much that he walked our walk and talked our talk and then did something that no one else on earth could do—he took the sins of this whole world onto himself, took the blame of your sins and mine and died with those sins, only to rise again victorious with the power to overcome and defeat that darkness with his wonderful light? If you don't know about this, the angels do. And they sing about it!

You can know all these things in your life.  You can sing a new song that will stick in your heart and your mind for the rest of your life. You can give yourself away this Christmas. Don’t just give packages jostled through a mall of people who don't know how important you are—important enough for God to come and rescue you in the person of Jesus Christ. You can give yourself as a gift back to God. And then you will be able to sing about it with the angels.

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to everyone on whom his favor rests.

Amen.

Copyright M.R. Hyde 2013