Searching His Word, Seeking His Heart
Before we put away the decorations and “de-ornament” the tree, let’s take a last look at a carol that we don’t sing as often—”It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”.
My first thought was, What came at midnight? I discovered that it was the song. What song? The angel’s song, of course. Now we don’t know that Jesus’ birth was at midnight, but it was at night.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks at night. Luke 2:8
The carol pictures these angels coming close to the earth from their heavenly reign to sing this song, accompanied by their harps. Small harps were quite common for accompanying the psalms. Remember, David was a harp player!
We read in Revelation about John’s vision of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders falling down before the Lamb (Jesus).
Each one had a harp…. Revelation 5:8
It came upon a 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 heavens all gracious King!” The world in solemn stillness lay to hear the angels sing.
Of all the music in the world, I can’t imagine that any other would be more glorious than this very one with all the heavenly host of angels joining in. Their exact text was….
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:14
The song is two-fold—our praise to God and His peace to us. What a song to carry with us!
In another verse, the author, Edmund H. Sears, wrote of the crushing loads, toil, and pain we bear in this life. Each of us have experienced our unique share of loads this year, but the carol compels us to look for the the ways the Lord has lifted us and carried us during the hard times and to remember the peace, the rest that He brought us in spite of those difficult times.
Look at your year. Think of the angels’ song.
O 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; oh rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing.
As we look toward a new year, let us carry the two-fold angels’ song with us—our praise to God, His peace to us; to us on whom His favor rests. Not to everyone, only those who call upon Him and believe in Him.
Inhale His peace, exhale anxiety. Inhale His peace, exhale worry. Inhale His peace, exhale confusion. Inhale His peace, exhale ______ . You fill in the blank. Stopping to literally do this exercise about four times brings amazing calm and causes our focus to be on Him, not self.
Carry the angels’ song with you all year. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’
Blessings to you as you move into 2020.
~ Joyce ~