Advent Devotional: Week Three - Wednesday
Scripture Reading: Luke 2:9-14
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
In pictures and descriptions of Jesus’ birth, the angels attending are often portrayed as chubby cherubim, lightly plucking at harp and lyre. They hardly seem scary, or the type of characters that would frighten hardened shepherds. Yet this multitude broke through the heavenly curtain, and with regal precision proclaimed in swift accord the present situation.
The heavenly band of angels was an angelic “host,” or literally an army of angels. They came to announce peace, but also to signify that God’s enemies would be destroyed through this coming Savior, Christ the Lord. Give praise to God, who sits on the highest throne of heaven and brings peace on earth for those who bear his favor.
Prayer: Dear Majestic God, you spared no expense in securing peace for us. You took your son from a swaddling babe to a crucifixion and destroyed sin and death for us. May we carry on about Jesus as the angels did, filling our lives with songs of praise to him, our Savior and Lord.
Advent Singing: Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the new born King; peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise; join the triumph of the skies; with the angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain: Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, offspring of the virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity, pleased as man with us to dwell, Jesus, our Immanuel.
[Refrain]
Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild, he lays his glory by, born that we no more may die, born to raise us from the earth, born to give us second birth.
[Refrain]
