LSB 380 Hark The Herald Angels Sing

LSB 380 Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Charlotte Church - Soprano,   King's College,   Mannheim Steamroller

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the Incarnate Deity

Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus, Immanuel!

Light and Life to all He brings, 

Ris'n with healing in His wings.

born to raise the sons of earth,

born to give them second birth

John Wesley nails these lines. These lines bring God in the Flesh teaching to the hearts and minds of both the smallest and biggest singers and hearers. Kids can easily learn these lines and belt them out to their hearts content. The great thing about them is that as they grow up year by year they can not only learn them by rote, but keep unpacking them as their minds, hearts, and faith grow up. 

The Poetic Promises here keep us hearing the vastness of God's love and the scope of His care with fresh perspectives. These words keep the truth wrapped in the mystery fresh enough for five year olds, fifty-five year olds, and hundred and five year olds.

Jesus in God in human form. Jesus gives us the opportunity to say "Hi" to our Creator God, and to be friends with each other. Jesus is our healer. He brings Light. He brings Life. Jesus' birth brings resurrection, new creation, new birth.

The poetic depth of promise upon promise gives us plenty of hooks to hang our faith hat on, enjoy! and have a merry second day of Christmas.

Refrain:

Luke 2:13-14 

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!”

Verse 1

Romans 5:10-11

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

Verse 2

Matthew 1:23 

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 

John 1:1, 14 

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

Verse 3

Malachi 4:2 

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 

1 Peter 1:3 

Born Again to a Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 11:24–27

Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”