Hymns of Hope: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Originally written by Charles Wesley in 1739, the hymn, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” draws its inspiration from the second chapter of Luke.

“And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great 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!”

Outside the small town of Bethlehem, a group of shepherds were watching their sheep at night. As they stood guard over their flock, the incessant bleating of sheep was suddenly interrupted as the skies burst forth in light. Glory shown around them as the good news of their newborn King was heralded by a multitude of the heavenly host.

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

From a human standpoint, these unassuming, lowly men were among the least likely to be sought after for the exhalation of the long-awaited Messiah. He could have announced the birth of His Son to government officials or lofty spiritual leaders. But then, God does not always work in the way we expect Him to. Instead, he chose a group of ordinary shepherds to hear the first news of the Christ-child’s arrival.

Join the triumph of the skies. With angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

The Son of Righteousness was now veiled in human flesh—our incarnate deity. Fully God and fully man, He had come to live and die among us. Born that man no more may die. Just a few miles from where Jesus was born, lay the hill of Calvary where He would give His life as a ransom for many. The healing that is found in His wings was purchased by His precious blood, poured out for mankind.

Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.

This was the good news the whole world had been waiting for. And this good news of great joy is for you too. The God who created and carried out His plan of salvation through Christ Jesus since before the foundation of the world, is the same God who is actively ordering and accomplishing His plan for your life today. Here, in this very moment, in the midst of your mourning, God is working out His plan of redemption in your life.

Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.

This baby in a manger is the very substance of our hope—hope that all who are in Him will be born again to an endless life with Him in glory. Our great hope is that one day Christ will come again, not as a baby, but as the King who will wipe every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4) and transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body (Philippians 3:21). The marvel of it all fueled the joyful song of the angels that night outside of Bethlehem. And I pray that as the marvel of this gospel truth sinks deep into your own heart, it will fuel your song this Christmas, too.

Ashlee is the Editorial Coordinator for Hope Mommies and author of their I AM, Identity, and Sojourn Bible studies. She and her husband, Jesse, live in Milwaukee with their children—five on earth and two in heaven.

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