When we read the Christmas story in the Bible we get the idea that Joseph and Mary were not set up to do much celebrating when Jesus was born. But God is good — and He didn’t leave those arrangements up to them to figure out. God knew this was a time and occasion to pull out all the stops and He threw a party that involved angels and shepherds and more so at least part of His creation could pause that day and rejoice gloriously. A king was born. God knew what that would mean for His creation. This song is lit up by the joy that rises in people like you and me as we learn what God already knew on that blessed day — the birthday of a king. Please give this song a song-along listen and join in the celebration.
♫♪ O how much God gave to us that day! ♫♪
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government will be upon His shoulders.
And He will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on the throne of David
and over his kingdom,
to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness
from that time and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
♫♪ What a perfect, holy way ♫♪
A king was born! A king like none other. In chapter 2 Daniel foretold, “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.”
John the Baptist lived “in the days of those kings” Daniel spoke of in that quote we just read. In Matthew 3 it says, In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 3:1)
Luke 1 records Gabriel telling Mary, “The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
Can there be any doubt that Isaiah, Daniel, Gabriel and John were talking about the same king and kingdom?
It is time to celebrate! The God of heaven has set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. The King has been born. The government is upon His shoulders. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
What a perfect, holy way!
Let’s sing it.
♫♪ O how the angels sang ♫♪
I imagine you know there are a number of traditions related to Christmas that are not found in the Bible. It seems “angels singing” is one of them. I don’t know — though I would love to learn differently — of any place in the Bible that clearly says angels sing.
In the Christmas story from Luke 2 we read, Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God . . . .’ I see “saying” here but not “singing”. You might argue that a person singing something is saying something. This verse does not declare there was no singing. It just does not mention singing by name. We see people singing in the Bible. And praise can be sung. And angels praise the Lord. But it will take some work to prove from the Bible without question that angels sing. This record in Luke 2 doesn’t settle the question. (And I don’t think we can resolve this simply by noting the “sing” in “the angel praising”. Just saying. 😉 )
It is true a lot of songs declare that angels sing. For now, I’m just going to enjoy the songs and the pictures they paint — and the next time I see Santa, I’ll try to remember to ask him if singing angels are real.
I know for sure that PEOPLE can sing. So — let’s celebrate! Rejoice! Let’s lay burdens aside, and pause, and join the Lord and the angels and shepherds and Joseph and Mary, and sing with joy in our hearts as we ponder the birthday of a King.
God bless you lots
-Dale R.
LYRICS: The Birthday Of A King
Text and tune: William Harold Neidlinger (published 1910)
1 In the little village of Bethlehem,
There lay a Child one day,
And the sky was bright with a holy light
O’er the place where Jesus lay.
Chorus:
Alleluia! O how the angels sang.
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light,
‘Twas the birthday of a King.
2 ‘Twas a humble birth-place, but O how much
God gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way.
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