God Speaking

“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” (Luke 2:8 – 9)

Many years ago my eldest daughter began a beautiful Christmas tradition. It began by her buying four exquisite little wooden angels (to represent her and her three sisters) as decorations for our family Christmas tree. Since then those sweet little angels have been joined each year by other angels. So many now our family Christmas tree is a complete angel tree with branches covered with every imaginable depiction of angels possible. As my daughter began to travel, the angels assumed fascinating forms and materials ranging from fabric to the deep blue of the Delft Dutch pottery. The unpacking of those angels each year is a bitter sweet experience. Each angel represents a period of time in our lives and as my daughter lives in Cyprus, she cannot always be with us for Christmas so as I unwrap these precious bundles tears are liable to flow at any given moment. As I unpacked them this year I began to wonder about the role angels play in the whole of created life. We know from scripture that they were present with God at creation and in the book of Job we read they shouted for joy when earth was formed.

“…while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy.” (Job 38:7)

I also discovered they are mentioned 273 times in the Bible. The Bible does not give descriptions of what these Heavenly Host actually look like so the various forms of angels from fat cherubs to long robed figures with wings, spring from man’s imagination, but what we do know is that the Heavenly Father gives them roles to play in his children’s lives. One of the most important roles for one of the angels, was to guide God’s children safely out of Egypt.

“See I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” (Exodus 23:20)

The Psalmists remind us that when we belong to the Lord even if we cannot see them, we have a heavenly host surrounding us at all times.

“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and he delivers them.” (Psalm 34:7)

And again in Psalm 91:11

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.”

So it is very natural that the heralding of this new born king, this Saviour of the world, this gift to all mankind, is made by an angel.

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee. To a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.” (Luke 1:26 – 27)

It is also natural that the news of the birth of this king of kings was also made by an angel.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9)

Then we find not one but a great company of Heavenly Host praising God with their angelic voices filling the sky.

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men on whom his favour rests.” (Luke 2: 13 – 14)

We are warned, although, that these angels are not to be worshipped and when an angel appears to John in the book of Revelation, he tells him he is just a fellow servant and only God himself is to be worshipped. (Revelation 19:10)

So when we hear the age old Christmas carols this year, reminding us of that one incredible night and the joy the angels experienced, let us join our voices with them and praise the new born king.

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the new born King

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled.”

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