Project 119: Heaven and Nature Sing | Luke 1:26-56
| Project 119 | Dr. Kely Hatley
Reading for Sunday, December 20: Luke 1:26-56
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
-"Hark! the Herald Angels Sing"
Today we begin looking at one of the most well-loved Christmas carols, “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.” Our Scripture passage is the story of Gabriel’s visit to Mary to announce that she will bear the Son of God and will call Him Jesus. It also recounts how Mary went to visit Zechariah and Elizabeth’s home and there delivers (sings) one of the most famous songs outside of the book of Psalms that we have recorded, her “Magnificat.”
Mary’s song is very similar to the prayer that Hannah prayed long ago as she dedicated her young boy, Samuel, to God’s service in the temple (1 Samuel 2:1-10). It echoes many of the same themes. In verse 50 of the chapter Mary sings, “His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation” (Luke 1:50 NIV). Truly the Lord’s mercy is great. Through Jesus, God has granted His merciful love and forgiveness to all of us. Jesus’ death on the cross was God’s redeeming action to provide a way of reconciliation between Himself and ourselves, lowly sinners though we are.
Today’s carol stanza ends with the phrase “God and sinners reconciled.” This is the good news of the gospel. Jesus paid our sin debt so that we might be reconciled to His Heavenly Father. As my old choral professor from Samford University always used to say whenever he thought a choral piece we had sung was great, “If that doesn’t ring your bell, something’s wrong with your clapper!” This good news should be in the forefront of our minds, always causing us to contemplate it and to be ready to sing with the angels, “Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”
Be sure that your “clapper” is ready to ring and to sing out the good news of this gospel. You can sing it with your mouth and you can “ring” it with your actions. Take a moment today to read through Mary’s song and even Hannah’s song in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. The Lord is merciful. God is definitely deserving of the glory and praise that we give to Him. Praise be to God for how He has extended mercy to us through Jesus from generation to generation! Glory to the newborn King!