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“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

12 Dec

“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!
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.”
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!

Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favoured one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th’incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King!

Hail! the heaven-born
Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen 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.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new-born King !”

Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Charles Wesley and George Whitefield/ Felix Mendelssohn

https://youtu.be/lCt1s44cfMM

Dear God, I was at a a Christmas concert last night, and it was so worshipful it occurred to me that it might be fun to do a series on Christmas hymns. This is one that always sticks in my head, so I thought I would start with “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”

I want to start by saying I recognize these songs are not scripture so I won’t treat them as such. What I’d like to do with these songs is try to put myself in place of the author and look to see what they want to call out in the Christmas story.

I’ll start with the fact that this song is pure joy. When you sing it, even if you don’t know the words and you just hear the music, Mendelssohn communicates joy. When the authors of the lyrics (I think many tweaked them over the years, but Wesley and Whitefield are largely credited with the original lyrics) picked this tune, they must have been drawn to something they wanted to use to bring out the glory of angels appearing and bringing news beyond imagination.

In the first verse, the angels are credited with saying, “Glory to the newborn King! Peace on earth and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled. Christ is born in Bethlehem. Glory to the newborn King!” Then the rest of the words are apparently the authors’ charge to us.

  • Joyful all ye nations rise. Join the triumph of the skies. With angelic hosts proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem: The angels are here with great news. Amazing news. We must join them in their joy and rejoicing.
  • Christ by highest heaven adored. Christ the everlasting Lord. Late in time behold him come. Offspring of the favoured one. — Now the authors are telling us who Jesus is. His identity. He is adored by the highest in heaven. He is everlasting. He is also the offspring of Mary.
  • Veiled in flesh the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell. Jesus our Emmanuel. — I don’t think I’ve ever noticed the phrase “veiled in flesh the Godhead see.” That is great poetry and says so much. I don’t know that I’ll ever sing thing song again without thinking of that one phrase. How beautiful. And it is declarative with the rest of this verse: Jesus is God and part of God.
  • Hail! the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail! the Son of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. — More declarations about who Jesus is, but this one gets into his righteousness and ability to heal and save us. It uses the word “risen.” He brings light and life. This is great news the angels are telling us here.
  • 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. — And this is why Jesus came. He laid down his glory so that we might have hope. He was born to raise us and give us second birth.

Father, thank you for this inspiration. Thank you that you gave these men these lyrics. Thank you that you gave us this truth. And thank you for my hope. It makes all of the difference in my day.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 12, 2019 in Christmas Hymns

 

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Deuteronomy 18:15-18

10 Dec

Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him. For this is what you yourselves requested of the Lord your God when you were assembled at Mount Sinai. You said, ‘Don’t let us hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore or see this blazing fire, for we will die.’ “Then the Lord said to me, ‘What they have said is right. I will raise up a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell the people everything I command him.
Deuteronomy 18:15-18

Dear God, it is easy to criticize your leadership style. Speaking through flawed and frail humans instead of speaking to us directly. Giving us a collection of books written over the course of hundreds (thousands) of years with inconsistencies that can be glaring (two different creation stories back to back in Genesis that are different?). Sending Jesus to live, die, and come back to life to atone for our sin. You allow all of this suffering to happen in the world–from human on human crimes to natural disasters. These are just a few examples.

But what’s the alternative. What would be a better way? Would it be better if you actually spoke to us directly in an audible voice, gave us a 100-page instruction manual on how to live, made us work for our atonement, and made earth heaven, removing all obstacles in life as well as our free will? I’ve thought about this some in the past. Yes, sometimes this system of yours can be frustrating, but it is always better than any alternatives I can come up with.

Father, thank you for your gentleness. In terms of your prophets and scripture, thank you for a chance to get to know you in a more personal way through both stories of your interaction with people over millennia and through the life and examples of Jesus. And thank you for the struggles. Yes, there are times when I’d love to ask you if you regret free will, but I know the world would be pretty miserable without it. In the end, I suppose it come down to the fact that I trust you, and I also trust that this vague system that leaves room for flawed interpretations of your nature and how I should live my life also leaves enough latitude for me to be wrong and still be in relations with you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 10, 2019 in Deuteronomy

 

John 15:5-8

09 Dec

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
John 15:5-8

Dear God, I thought of something this morning. Whenever Jesus compared ya to anything it seems like it’s always vegetation. He didn’t say, “You are the Lion and the world is your prey.” Or, “Be like the camel, which can go for days without water.” I suppose he did compare us to sheep, but that’s because they are too dumb to live without a shepherd. Without leadership, they will just stay in one place to eat until the last remnants of the grass are destroyed. They can’t see the consequences of their foolishness. The branches need the vine to give them nourishment. The sheep need the shepherd to point them in the right direction. In none of these illustrations are the examples pertaining to us on the attack. They are attached to you and need you to move them.

When I’m at work, my tendency is to think that I/we have a duty to be moving and growing. Should we add a new program? Should we strike out in this area? The push is coming from an outward sense of duty and not from the connection I have to you through the vine. It’s not your still small voice I’m listening for, but my own desire to be seen as an effective leader by my board and by the community that drives me. Ah. There it is. It’s my ego that drives me.

Father, I’m sorry for my ego. I’m sorry for my insecurity. I know I can be a fool. Guide me. Show me. Help me to hear your still small voice. My commitment to you is to try to make more room in my life to be able to hear you.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 9, 2019 in John

 

Second Sunday of Advent

08 Dec

In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said,“He is a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming!Clear the road for him!’”John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
Matthew 3:1-12

Dear God, having grown up in a church that didn’t really observe the church calendar (Advent, Lent, etc.), I’m still figuring out the different Sundays between Thanksgiving and Christmas and what they mean. It was my wife, who grew up Episcopalian, who first taught me about some of these things. I had hear the word “Advent.” I had hear about “Lent.” But I didn’t really have any idea what they were about.

So now I’m here on the second Sunday of Advent. I’m preaching later this morning and it’s apparently time to talk about John the Baptist. I prayed through the verses above earlier this week as part of my preparation for this sermon. Now it’s time to make sure I have what you want me to say crystalized in my mind so that I can give someone this morning the message that you have for them. So what is that message?

Much like earlier in the week, what has stuck with me from the passage is the people who came to hear John. What were they looking for? What did they find? I think they were looking for happiness. But happiness is a pretty vague term. The Declaration of Independence calls the pursuit of happiness one of the unalienable rights you endowed to us. I doubt even they could have articulated it. They just knew their souls were unsettled. They were not at peace. Word had gotten to them that there was this weird guy out in the wilderness preaching and dunking people in water (he called it “baptizing?”). Now those people were telling their friends that they were experiencing you and life in a ways they never had before. They were happy.

There were other people, of course, who were watching. They were the people who were worried because they had never been able to give people happiness before. Why? What was the difference in the Pharisees’ teaching and John’s preaching? A few words come to mind: grace, mercy, love. John expected no less of the people than did the Pharisees. He expected them to repent and sin no more. But he added something that I don’t think any of them had ever seen–a symbolic cleansing. Come and be bathed as an outward expression of true repentance. Don’t just ask for forgiveness. Turn and sin no more. Abandon yourself. Humble yourself. Let go of yourself and live! Let me say that again–Let go of yourself and live! 

Father, as I finish my outline and get ready to be your ambassador, move beyond my weaknesses. Move beyond my failings. Use me despite how evil and selfish I can be. Use me beyond reason. Yes, I guess I’m asking you to work a miracle this morning. Use this vessel to reach that one person who needs to hear about the happiness you have in store for them.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 

 
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Posted by on December 8, 2019 in Matthew

 

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1 King’s 12:26

07 Dec

Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David.
1 Kings 12:26

Dear God, I should have gone just half of a chapter further when I did my study of Solomon a few months ago. I read Fred Smith’s weekly blog this morning and it was about Jeroboam’s reign as king and how it not only went south, but influenced Israelite Kong’s for generations. It lead me to go back and look at his life to see what I can learn. When I went back to 1 Kings, I found this verse. There’s a concept that seems like the original sin that set up all of the others. He decided that hanging onto the tribe for himself was the most important priority.

Contrast that with David. David, a flawed and sinful man whom power corrupted with the indulgences of lust and self gratification still had one thing right when it came to his life. He knew that everything was from you and for your will to be done it would have to remain your right to give and take the throne any time you wanted. He wouldn’t take it from Saul (1 Samuel 24:6-7) and he wouldn’t keep it from Absolom (2 Samuel 15:25-26). He allowed himself to indulge his vices (which caused him countless problems), but he had his overall philosophy and theology correct. He didn’t try to force his will upon you.

Father, I know I have a will that wants to dictate what I allow you to do. I have a will about being safe within my job and my income. I have a will when it comes to what I want my marriage to look like. I have a will about what I how I want my children’s lives to go. But that’s not the prayer Jesus taught us. Let your kingdom come and your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. That is my prayer today. Make me sensitive to your will, and help me to be willing to put it all on the table for your will and your glory.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen

 
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Posted by on December 7, 2019 in 1 Kings

 

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John 10:1-10

05 Dec

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” Those who heard Jesus use this illustration didn’t understand what he meant, so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
John 10:1-10

Dear God, I confess that I am having a hard time applying Jesus’s parable this morning. My head isn’t quite there. Maybe if I just focus on those last two sentences. Satan just wants to steal, kill and destroy and you want to give me a rich and satisfying life. So what are the tools that Satan uses to accomplish his goals and what tools do you use to accomplish your goals?

Satan:

  • Wealth
  • Pleasure
  • Self-indulgence
  • Insecurity
  • Self-pity
  • This isn’t an all-inclusive list, but all of the fruits of the flesh from Galatians 5 can be traced back to this: “When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.”

    • You/Jesus/Holy Spirit:

    • Self sacrifice
    • Philanthropy
    • Service
    • Worship
    • Prayer
  • Again, this isn’t an all-inclusive list, but these things lead to the fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” I don’t get these things by pursuing the tools Satan uses. I get this “rich and satisfying life” by listening to your voice, obeying your commands and following you.

    • Father, help me to hear you, worship you, and follow you today. Let it all be for you glory’s sake and for my joy and peace.

    In Jesus’s name I pray,

    Amen

     
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    Posted by on December 5, 2019 in John

     

    John 8:9-12

    04 Dec

    When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
    John 8:9-12

    Dear God, I don’t know if the end of the adulterous woman story and the beginning of this new confrontation with the Pharisees are supposed to be linked, but other than the division the the translators put in there, John doesn’t give us any indication that this didn’t happen all at the same time so I want to look at them all being together. He told the woman he wasn’t going to condemn her and to go and sin no more. Then he told people that if they can walk in his light and have life.

    Go and sin no more. Walk in light. Have life.

    On the other hand, I can go ahead and sin, leave the light, and miss out on life. But sinning in the moment can feel so good. Judging others. Gossiping. Lying to cover up my mistakes. Lusting. What fun is it to treat others around me with respect, be vulnerable and tell the truth, and love my neighbor as myself?

    I guess it can be compared with eating a healthy meal or eating poorly. The balanced, nutritious meal will leave me satisfied and feeling good while the pizza buffet and the big desserts will be enjoyable in the moment, but leave me feeling bad and, overall, less healthy. Then when you pile those experiences on each other time after time you are left with a terrible body. That’s walking in the dark.

    Father, help me to be mindful of what walking in the light looks like at any given moment. Give me the strength to choose you, to sin no more, and to walk in your light. I want this not only for myself, but also so that you can use me in the world around me.

    In Jesus’s name I pray,

    Amen

     
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    Posted by on December 4, 2019 in John

     

    John 6:32-35

    03 Dec

    Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
    John 6:32-35

  • Dear God, what are we seeking and what do we need? As I prepare to preach this Sunday for the Presbyterians I am starting to formulate an outline of seeking you and finding what we don’t expect. I set out thinking you will be one way and do certain things for me, but I end up finding something else. From yesterday, the people who went out to see John were looking for something and we’re probably surprised by what they found in John. The people in this story were looking for Jesus and were probably surprised by what they found.
  • So what am I looking for from you, even in this moment. If I drill down and get completely honest and transparent with myself I guess I can say that there’s at least a part of me that is hoping that you will reward my worship of you with favor. You will answer my prayers with a “yes.” You will keep me from suffering too much. Funny, but that doesn’t sound like someone who has really, truly, and deeply died to himself to take up your cross and follow you.
  • Father, help me to formulate all of this into a cohesive message that I need to hear and then that your church needs to hear. I can still be so selfish. Please forgive me.
  • In Jesus’s name I pray,
  • Amen
    •  
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    Posted by on December 3, 2019 in John

     

    Matthew 3:1-12

    02 Dec

    In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. ” The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River. But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize, he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize with water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. He is ready to separate the chaff from the wheat with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, gathering the wheat into his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire.”
    Matthew 3:1-12

    Dear God, who are these people that came out into the wilderness to hear John? What were they looking for? Why were they baptized? I’ve never really thought about them before. I know they were repenting, but why? What were they gaining from it other than a clean conscience?

    What I’m about to say are all assumptions because Matthew doesn’t really tell us why. But if I had done what they did, this might be why.

    • I was miserable in my first-century, Roman-ruled life and I was looking for some hope.
    • I was looking for the Messiah and John seemed to know about him.
    • When I got there, John made my life about me and my attitude towards you. He did the old “ask not what God can do for you, but what you have been doing for God” routine.
    • I made a recommitment to be Jewish and clean my own life up as a result of listening to John.

    Father, I guess I have two things coming out of this passage. First, I’m sure there are things in my life for which the Holy Spirit is trying to convict me. I can think of a couple right now. I’m truly sorry. I do need you to forgive me. I am very sorry.

    Second, as I prepare to preach at a local church this Sunday, give me the words you want this congregation to hear. Lay your truth on them through me. Speak through me so that your Spirit might enter the world through them.

    In Jesus’s name I pray,

    Amen

     
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    Posted by on December 2, 2019 in Matthew

     

    “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” by Fred Rogers

    01 Dec

    https://youtu.be/_biMtzAxiy0

    “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” by Fred Rogers

    It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood
    A beautiful day for a neighbor
    Could you be mine?
    Would you be mine?

    It’s a neighborly day in this beauty wood
    A neighborly day for a beauty
    Could you be mine?
    Would you be mine?

    I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you
    I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

    Let’s make the most of this beautiful day
    Since we’re together, might as well say
    Would you be my, could you be my
    Won’t you be my neighbor?

    Won’t you be? Won’t you please?
    Please won’t you be my neighbor?

    Dear God, such positivity! There is so much positivity in this song. As I think about Fred Rogers (a.k.a. Mr. Rogers) sitting down to write this song for the opening of his children’s show, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, I am trying to get myself into his process for coming up with these lyrics.

    • What do children of every background need to hear?
    • There will be some children watching this show that live in poverty that watch this show. What do they need to hear?
    • Some of the children watching this show will live in scary situations. What do they need to hear?
    • Some of the children will have it all (in a good way). What do they need to hear?

    The thing about Mr. Rogers is that he communicated to every person that they were wanted and worthwhile. “It’s not only a beautiful day, but it’s a beautiful day to have a friend. Not only can you be my friend, but will you be my friend? I’ve always wanted to have a friend just like you. I’ve always wanted to live near you.”

    Then he almost depersonalize it and opens up the possibility that anyone can be friends. “Since we are together, let’s make the most of the fact that we are together and be friends in this moment.”

    I am like many people who were young from the 60s through the 90s. I used to watch this show. If you asked me to rate Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, and The Electric Company, as a child I would have put Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood last among the three because it moved a little slow and was quieter, but there were a couple of aspects I loved. I always loved the model of the neighborhood that the camera would scan over as it seems to lead Mr. Rogers to his own front door. And I loved Trolley and the Land of Make Believe. I can’t tell you why, but I loved that trolley and how it would go through that tunnel. In retrospect, however, what appeals to me from my memories is the gentleness and the sense of being wanted. And I was a loved child, so it’s not like I had a big hole in my heart where that is concerned. But it’s still nice to feel wanted.

    Father, as I go through my life at work tomorrow, help me to express this emotion to others. Help me to let them feel wanted by me. Help me to listen and hear them in a new way. Help me to let you shine through me. Help me to communicate to them how much you love and want them. Mr. Rogers was your ambassador to the world, whether the world knew it or not. Help me to be that ambassador as well.

    In Jesus’s name I pray,

    Amen

     
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    Posted by on December 1, 2019 in Hymns and Songs

     

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