Hark the Herald

 

Hark! The herald angels sing,

“Glory to the newborn King;

  1. Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
    God and sinners reconciled!”
    Joyful, all ye nations rise,
    Join the triumph of the skies;
    With th’angelic host proclaim,
    “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
    • Refrain:
      Hark! the herald angels sing,
      “Glory to the newborn King!”


I was listening to this in the car yesterday on the way home from a very pleasant beach walk and lunch out with the family.  It was being sung more slowly that I would normally listen to it and this made me stop and think about the words and what it is that Wesley actually managed to pack into a few lines.  We know these words so well we may not often stop to think about what we are actually saying.  So here is my re-write of Hark the Herald in 21st century English


Listen!  The angels are singing something prophetic.  They are heralding the birth of a King who is worthy of having glory ascribed to Him.  From hereon in there will be peace on earth because in the person of a gentle meek infant God is reconciling Himself with sinful mankind.
Rejoice with us people of every land and country!  Rejoice with all of heaven and join with the angels who are declaring that Christ, the long awaited Messiah has been born in Bethlehem!
Listen! The prophetic angelic hosts are giving glory to the newborn king.

  1. Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
    Christ the everlasting Lord;
    Late in time, behold Him come,
    Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
    Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
    Hail th’incarnate Deity,
    Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
    Jesus our Emmanuel.

This Messiah who is adored by everyone in heaven ,even the most high God, Christ who is for all eternity the Lord of all, has at last come; and we can see Him, the child of a virgin, the very spirit of God wrapped up in human flesh.  Let us worship this divine man, this indwelling God who has delighted to come and dress Himself in flesh like ours so that He can be our Jesus. God living with us as one of us.

  1. Hail the heav'n born Prince of Peace!
    Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
    Light and life to all He brings,
    Ris’n with healing in His wings.
    Mild He lays His glory by,
    Born that man no more may die;
    Born to raise the sons of earth,
    Born to give them second birth.

We shout out and salute the Prince of heaven who is peace and brings peace. We honour the shining righteous one who brings light and life to everyone because He has risen from the grave. His death and resurrection make healing possible. He has gently and kindly set down His glory and been born as a baby so that men are no longer condemned to eternal death. His birth had enabled men made of the dirt of the ground to become eternal, spiritual, born again beings.

As you almost inevitably sing this carol today or tomorrow I pray that your spirits will be electrified by the truth that you are declaring and your hearts will thrill to know that He was born so that you could live with Him eternally.  Have as good a Christmas as your circumstances allow, and be at peace knowing that God loves you, is continually interceding for you and knows how to keep you safe and close to His heart.

Merry Christmas.  Much love   Caz xx

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