The Angels Sing

Angels have always puzzled me. I know they visited people in the Bible when something important was happening. But I never felt an angel was part of my world. I often relate angels with death and heaven. I'm not sure why. But, for that reason, I guess, I don't turn to an angel as my rescue or protector, I turn to God and Jesus. But today I want to focus on the angel who visited Mary to tell her what God planned for her.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to let Mary know she was highly favored and the Lord was with her (Luke 1:28). Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid. So I guess she hadn't seen an angel in person before. Gabriel explained everything to Mary who must have been in shock to hear such amazing things. Yet, Mary was gracious and trusted in her God to guide her. When she asked the angel how all this could be, he answered,

"The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God,'" (Luke 1:35-37 NIV).

Wow. Talk about being blown away! This was amazing stuff. Mary found herself in the middle of God's plan to save the world. No wonder Christmas songs say the angels sang! Wonder! Excitement! What wonderful joy to experience! But, Elizabeth, Mary's relative, says it best,

"Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1:45 NIV).

The Christmas carol, It Came upon the Midnight Clear was written by Edmund H. Sears in 1849 and Richard S. Willis in 1850. It has four flats so maybe it isn't as commonly played as others we hear but it has a lot to say about angels. Enjoy.

It Came upon the Midnight Clear

It came upon the 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.

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heavenly music floats O're all the weary world; Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hovering wing: And ever o'er its Babel sounds The blessed angels sing. 

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.

For lo, the days are hastening on, By prophet seen of old, When, with the ever circling years, Shall come the time foretold, When the  new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

I pray the angel songs can lift us up today as we draw closer to the birth of our Savior.