The Angels' Song

Luke 2:8-20

The Shepherds’ Visit

Now there were shepherds nearby living out in the field, keeping guard over their flock at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were absolutely terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a vast, heavenly army appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels left them and went back to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, that the Lord has made known to us.” So they hurried off and located Mary and Joseph, and found the baby lying in a manger. When they saw him, they related what they had been told about this child, and all who heard it were astonished at what the shepherds said. But Mary treasured up all these words, pondering in her heart what they might mean. So the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; everything was just as they had been told.

~*~

We have all heard the story of Jesus birth the first Christmas and the taxation that Caesar Augustus had which had initiated that fate-filled trip to Bethlehem. But I want to tell you another side of this tale that you may never have thought of … that of The Angels’ Song.

Well over 2000 years ago now, God our Father set in motion His eternal plan for our Salvation. It was a very intricate plan that took many years of planning and preparation to complete. I believe it all began with the stars.

You see the star the Magis’ followed into Bethlehem began as stars that converged before Christ’s birth to form the ‘Christmas Star,’ or more correctly the Christmas Constellation, that announced His coming. This special constellation He placed in the skies above the Eastern Empires. Some wise men of these regions started searching heir historical archives when it was first sighted to find its significance. They learned that this new ‘star’ was a sign to tell of the birth of a new and important king for the nation of Israel … a leader that they had been waiting on for hundreds of years.

This prophecy of Israel’s new king was well known throughout Israel and all the nations where the Jews had been in exile during their dispersion. This was a part of God’s plan from the beginning, for His Salvation is not just for Israel, but for all people, everywhere.

While the Magi prepared to ‘follow the star,’ our Father was off in other parts of the globe making other preparations. One such task was to prepare Elizabeth and Zachariah for the birth of their miracle baby … a male who born to them late in life and was to announce Jesus and His ministry, preparing people for His coming.

Another was to get Mary - a young, godly woman from Nazareth in Galilee - on board to bring this special Child into the world and raise Him, training Him for the job He would carry out in His lifetime.

God also had to let Joseph know that Mary hadn’t been unfaithful to him and that they should carry out their plans to be married and raise a family. God also told Joseph that the child she would bear was His Seed, His Son, that Mary and Joseph would be raising.

That is enough of the backstory.

While God was making all the preparations throughout the universe for Jesus’ birth, I believe He gave Gabriel - one of His chief, or archangels - orders for preparing His angel army for this special occasion. In fact, Gabriel was given the job of telling Mary and Joseph of their roles in God’s plan. But Gabriel’s job was far from over with these announcements. This was just the beginning...

Gabriel also had to ensure the angel army knew their part. This is where our Christmas story really begins.

Throughout heaven, Gabriel announced a meeting of all the angels. He brought them together to tell them of the need to form a choir and to learn some special songs because they would be proclaiming the birth of The King … Jesus. Let’s sit in on the angels’ meeting.

 “Hey, everyone,” Gabriel called, “gather around. There is much we need to talk about today.”

 “What’s going on?”

 “What’s Gabriel saying?”

 “OK, gather round, everyone and listen. Our Father, God, has finally decided it is time for His great plan for the earth’s Salvation to be set into motion. And you all have an important part in this plan. You are going to tell the King’s first visitors where they can find Him. And you get to do this with God’s glory and His music. God has written special songs for you all to sing on that night to a group of shepherds on a hillside outside of King David’s hometown of Bethlehem.”

 “So what do you want from us, Gabriel?”  Adriel asked.

 “As you have the most interest Adriel, I want you to be the choir leader,” Gabriel replied. “You will speak to the shepherds and give them God’s message while the choir sings softly in the background.”

 “The rest of the choir will sing of God’s glory during and after Adriel makes this most important announcement of the birth of His Son, Jesus, in the town of Bethlehem. These shepherds are perfect representations of the vast majority of humankind. They are simple folk who work hard to support their families and love the Lord with all their hearts. So learn the songs well and prepare for the most important day of all time thus far!”

After getting the angel army choir set up for practice, Gabriel had other heavenly duties to take care of. So he left the choir in Adriel’s care and went on about his work.

Adriel took his role as leader and director so seriously that he sought an appointment with Father God to find out just how He wanted things done and what He had chosen for them to sing. I believe their meeting when just like this:

 “Adriel, what brings you into my throne room?” Father God asked.

 “Father God, I want to make Your announcement just as special as You had envisioned it.”

Adriel responded, “What am I supposed to say? What shall we wear? What shall we sing? How will we pull all this off in time?”

 “Adriel, my son,” God replied. “You are right, this is an awesome and wonderful         announcement. It must be done just right. That is precisely why I have chosen you and your angel army choir to tell the human shepherds of the birth of My Son, Jesus. They will be the first people on earth to visit Him and bring Him honor in My name.”

 “Archangel, Gabriel just shared that part of the mission with us. So, what songs do you want us to sing during Your announcement, Father God?”

 “I have written a special piece for this event. A man named Handel will write it down for Me many years from now, but you angels will sing it to the shepherds on that special day. I call it the Hallelujah Chorus.

 But I have a speech for you to give that is just as important as this piece of music. It goes like this: ‘Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people: Today your Savior is born in the city of David. He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.’ Do you think you can learn these words in time, Adriel? They are essential and need to be just right.

 “Yes, Sir! I can … I will learn them. This speech will be perfect! Thank you, Father, for trusting me and the Angel Army for this important job. I know we will do this just like You planned.”

God was never afraid of how the angels would perform. He knew they were the right creations for this job. For He knew of this assignment before time began and created them perfectly for all they would need to do throughout eternity. His words were to calm Adriel. To give him the encouragement he would need to lead the Angel Army Choir and make the announcement all creation had been waiting for.

Now filled with his new-found, godly encouragement for the tasks ahead and a sound bubble containing their music, Adriel called the choir together to go over their upcoming assignment.

 “Gather ‘round, gang,” Adriel yelled, “I have the music Father God wants us to sing to the shepherds on earth. Let’s start learning it.”

The angels practiced several hours that day and every day for many months as they awaited the day they would make their announcement. Now the day has come and they were ready. As the Angel Army Choir gathered for their journey toward earth, Father God came into the hall.

 “Children, gather in and quiet down please,” called Father God. “I want to have a few words with you before you fly off for your assignments. You all know of the song and the announcement you are to share with the shepherds of earth this night. Now I want you to know what this announcement is all about. Tonight in a stable near the town of Bethlehem, My son - Jesus - will be born of a virgin named Mary. He will lead a righteous life and die to return to My Kingdom Family as My children … My heirs. This announcement is for the whole world, rich and poor alike. That is why I have chosen this family of shepherds near Bethlehem to be the first to hear of Him and to see Him. They are hard working common folk, neither poor nor rich, very average among the people of earth.”

 “Wow,” replied the angel choir. “Thank You, Father, for sending us to earth. We won’t let you down.”

 “I know you won’t, my children.” He said. “Now go, clothed in My Glory. Sing for the people of earth.”

 “And Adriel, Fear Not!” God continued, “You will speak My words with great confidence this night. You and the Angel Army Choir will bring me Great Glory with your words and deeds.”

And with those words of encouragement Adriel and the Angel Army Choir flew off toward earth and their God-given assignment to announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds and the world. Let’s follow and see what God has set into motion.

Low in the evening sky above the hillside meadows outside of Bethlehem the Angel Army Choir and Adriel their leader halted their flight. Softly the choir starts singing the Hallelujah Chorus. Just in front of the Choir is Adriel, resplendent in God’s Glory and Light. This Light gradually grows brighter, drawing the shepherds’ attention to the sky. When the sky around Adriel was almost as bright as the noonday sun, Adriel began to speak God’s message to the shepherds.

 “Don’t be afraid and listen carefully! I bring you a message from Father God. This news will bring great joy to all the people of earth! Today, in the city of Bethlehem, King David’s hometown, the Messiah - the savior of the world - has been born. His name is Jesus. To prove what I have said let me give you a sign; you will find this baby boy diapered, wrapped in a blanket and lying in a feed trough in the stables near the town below.”

When Adriel had finished his announcement, the Angel Army Choir began singing louder. Loud enough for the shepherds to clearly hear their words of honor and glory to God. After several minutes, the Angel Army Choir flew off, still singing their song. As they disappeared into the night sky, the shepherds began talking about what they had just seen and heard.

 “Wow, brothers. The angels said that Messiah was born in Bethlehem,” said Jacob, the head of this shepherd family. “Didn’t the prophet Isaiah tell us of his birth long years ago?”

 “Yes, he said God would give Messiah this miracle birth to prove He is our Salvation.” agreed his brother Salmon.”

 “Let’s go into town and find the manger-bed where the angels said He will be sleeping,” said Jonah, the youngest shepherd.

Having decided to go see their Messiah, the shepherds left their sheep in the sheepfold with a large rock rolled up to block the entrance and walked down the hill and to the stables just outside of town. There they found the baby Jesus lying on some clean, soft hay within a feeding trough.

Bowing to their knees, these men worshiped the Christ child from hearts filled with pure love toward God. Then they left the stable area and traveled throughout Bethlehem telling all they met about Jesus and the angels’ message. Once the whole wakeful population of Bethlehem was aware of the evening’s importance, the shepherds returned to their fields and flocks on the hillside just outside of town.

And the rest, as they say, is History. Well actually, HIS Story!

So while we celebrate the birth of our messiah, let’s remember the Angel Army Choir and their marvelous announcement. And let’s share His good news with everyone, every day of the year.

A Tale of Thanksgiving

I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates! I’ll walk right through and thank God! This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise. Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!

Psalm 118:17-21, MSG

I know that we have all heard the traditional Thanksgiving stories; how the Pilgrims came to this country, barely made it through their first winter with the help of some Native Americans who lived in that area. But today I want to tell you another tale of thanksgiving … a tale much older than the birth of America.

Long ago in the land of Israel, just after Jesus was crucified, the Christians was still in shock over all that had happened since the death and resurrection of their Master. Stephen – the very first Christian martyr – had been stoned while the religious leaders and chief priests looked on. One of these men, a Pharisee named Saul, watched over the belongings of those who through the stones.

After this stoning, Saul met with these leaders of the Jewish Temple to ask for letters to the leaders of synagogues, the local Jewish centers of worship, in the city of Damascus. They gladly gave Saul the letters he wanted. These men were happy that Saul was going to travel through the land to capture and bring to Jerusalem any men and women he found who were followers of “the Way,” this is what believers were called by the Jews before the name Christian – or follower of Christ – was used.

On his trip to Damascus, Saul took a group of men with him to help him with those he was about to arrest. He knew that he couldn’t handle the number of people he would be taking back to Jerusalem alone. Taking these men with him worked out to Saul’s benefit. For while on the road, though still a distance from the city, Saul had a close encounter with Jesus that would change his whole life.

Walking to Damascus from Jerusalem would take four to five days – a person could typically walk 10-15 miles a day, and up to 20 miles when you consider that most people walked everywhere they went. If I understand what the Bible says about this in the book of Acts, Saul had almost reached Damascus. I’d say that he was about a day’s travel outside of the city when he met the Lord. The Bible describes it as a bright light that dazed him. I think this light might have been just a glimpse of the glory that Jesus received when He was glorified by the Lord at His ascension.

Whether it was a bright light or the Light of His Glory, God blinded Saul by it to get his attention. For from the middle of this Light came Jesus’ voice calling out to Saul, asking why he was persecuting Him and His followers. Hearing the loud voice from heaven, Saul’s companions were confused, for they couldn’t see who was speaking.

You see, Saul was a very godly man before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Saul had been taught by the top Hebrew scholars of his day. He had become a Pharisee to live a life of devotion to God. He even thought that by arresting and jailing Jesus’ followers was what God would have him to do … but he was wrong. This is why Jesus used this blinding light on the road to Damascus to get his attention. Jesus had a plan for Saul’s life, just as He does for each of us.

After his encounter on the road with Jesus, Saul, with the help of his companions as he was now blind, continued his trip to Damascus, but with a new purpose. Now Saul was focused on learning all he could about the calling he had on his life.

Once in Damascus, Saul stayed with a fellow believer named Judas where he spent his time in prayer and fasting, having dreams from the Holy Spirit. While Saul was praying, across town a man named Ananias receiving his instruction from the Lord to go and pray for Saul. Though he argued at first, Ananias did go to where Saul was staying and prayed for him to receive his sight once more.

After his healing Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus, working alongside his new brothers and sisters in Christ while he learned more of the Way. He was preaching in the very synagogues where he had planned to arrest those he now worked with.

This change in Saul’s life is just what Jesus was talking about when He told the parables of the lost sheep and lost coin to His followers, not many days before. Luke 15:10, MSG says it like this:

“Or imagine a woman who has ten coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and scour the house, looking in every nook and cranny until she finds it? And when she finds it you can be sure she’ll call her friends and neighbors: ‘Celebrate with me! I found my lost coin!’ Count on it—that’s the kind of party God’s angels throw every time one lost soul turns to God.”

Yes, even the angels of Heaven give thanks when just one person, one lost soul, returns to God’s family in earnest!

Many days later, Saul had more than his Salvation to be thankful for. For some of the Jewish religious leaders sought to kill him because he had “changed sides” in their minds. So the believers learned of their plans before they were able to carry them out. They came to Saul with this information.

The Jews watched over the city gates 24/7, looking for the right time to capture and kill Saul. But the body of local believers took Saul by night in a large basket and hauled him up and over a lower portion of the city’s wall to escape the plot of their leaders.

You can be assured that he was singing praises to the Lord once he was safe from this threat of death. I believe his praises echoed those of King David that I quoted earlier, but will repeat here:

 … I didn’t die. I lived! And now I’m telling the world what God did. God tested me, he pushed me hard, but he didn’t hand me over to Death. Swing wide the city gates—the righteous gates! I’ll walk right through and thank God! This Temple Gate belongs to God, so the victors can enter and praise. Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!

Psalm 118:17-21, MSG

So at this time when our nation is celebrating Thanksgiving, we who are citizens of Christ’s Kingdom have much to be thankful for beyond the food on our tables, the clothes on our backs and the homes that we live in. We have Jesus - our Lord and Savior, His life, death, and resurrection – to be thankful for. So give thanks from hearts overflowing with gratitude.

Until next time!

Grammy Leigh

THE Light at the End of the Tunnel

Habakkuk 3:16-19 NLT

I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Those of you who have been following me on my journey through this life for any length of time know of the many struggles that I and my household, as well as our extended family, have been dealing with since the passing of my Grandmother last November, so I will not re-count it at this time. But I do want to share with you what the Lord has been showing me during this time.

We have had, and still have, serious financial difficulties. The loss of 80% of my income and a lot of unexpected expenses on top of that loss have made managing our budget impossible. But our daily struggles are nothing to be compared with the suffering of the Children of Israel under their oppressors. Yet the promises that the Lord gave to them are to us also. While we may not have physical armies encamped around our cities, we do have the minions of the enemy of our souls camped round about our hearts and minds, ever trying to distract us from His promises.

But as I read through the Prophet Habakkuk’s vision this morning, and noticed this prayer quoted above, I realized that I have nothing to fear and a lot to give thanks and praise over.

Israel had been conquered by Assyria. This raging army had destroyed all of their crops; in the fields and in their store houses. They had captured and transported most of the Israelites to foreign cities and re-inhabited their towns with peoples, slaves rather, from other gentile nations throughout their empire. Israel had no hope of returning home … no vision of God and His promises to save them. They were defeated!

And yet, Habakkuk had a vision! He saw what the rest of his people had lost sight of … so singing, he prayed. Here I quote the text from the Message Bible:

God, is it River you’re mad at? Angry at Old River? Were you raging at Sea when you rode horse and chariot through to salvation? You unfurled your bow and let loose a volley of arrows. You split Earth with rivers. Mountains saw what was coming. They twisted in pain. Flood Waters poured in. Ocean roared and reared huge waves. Sun and Moon stopped in their tracks. Your flashing arrows stopped them, your lightning-strike spears impaled them. Angry, you stomped through Earth. Furious, you crushed the godless nations. You were out to save your people, to save your specially chosen people. You beat the stuffing out of King Wicked, Stripped him naked from head to toe, Set his severed head on his own spear and blew away his army. Scattered they were to the four winds— and ended up food for the sharks! You galloped through the Sea on your horses, racing on the crest of the waves. When I heard it, my stomach did flips. I stammered and stuttered. My bones turned to water. I staggered and stumbled. I sit back and wait for Doomsday to descend on our attackers. Though the cherry trees don’t blossom and the strawberries don’t ripen, though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I’m singing joyful praise to God. I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God’s Rule to prevail, I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I’m king of the mountain!

Habakkuk remembered the promises of the Lord, and so should we! For the Lord is our strength and deliverer. And if we remember that, He will become our song in the night seasons, too!

Then we can say with the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:17-21, MSG:

This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what’s coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we’re certainly going to go through the good times with him!

That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

Remember: There is The Light at the end of your tunnel of hardships, too … His Name is Jesus!