Song Highlight: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
This week’s hymn highlight is Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. In my opinion, this is not only the best Christmas hymn but one of the best hymns ever written. It was written by the hymn writer Charles Wesley and the famous preacher of the great awakening, George Whitfield.
Being a theologically rich hymn, the opening lines reveal the main point of the hymn and why Christ came to earth: “Hark! The herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.” In a time when it seems that we are surrounded by constant noise, conflict, bad politics, cancel culture, bitterness, broken hearts, etc. it can be hard to hear the saying “Peace on Earth.” People talk about peace on earth and they usually have some sort of utopia in mind where there is no war, everyone is happy, there’s no inequality or injustice, sickness nor sadness, but rather happiness, health, and tranquility. But is that what the angels meant that blessed night in Bethlehem when they spoke to the shepherds? In Luke 2:8-14 the angelic host’s proclamation of peace is not that of easy living, but a peace between God and man. This was a peace of reconciliation, bringing redemption and salvation to those who were estranged from God. Sinful man cannot have peace with God because He is a holy God who must rightfully punish sin. The only way for man to be reconciled and have peace with God is if someone else pays our penalty and washes us from our sin. This is what Christ was born to do. He was born to bring glory and honor to the Father by dying for a people that were lost. In so doing, He brings peace to those wearied by the burden of sin. As the hymn says: “Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die. Born to raise the sons of Earth, Born to give them second birth.” Christ was born so that we could be born again. He died so that we could live. And He rose up from the grave to give us new life both now and for all eternity. In that peace and trust, we long with eager anticipation for that day when He will come again to make all things new and restore all things. But until then we proclaim to the nations with the Angelic host, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
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