The Christmas Carols: Past, Present, & Future Hopeنموونە

Day 20

Angels, From the Realms of Glory

Read: Matthew 2:1-12; Matthew 13:10-17; Ephesians 1:18

Journalist James Montgomery wrote a poem that ran on Christmas Eve 1816 in his London paper. This poem (“Angels from the Realms of Glory”) would later be set to music by a blind organist, and the song has been sung for over 200 years now in churches all over the world.

Given that the music was written by a blind man, I especially love the third verse that says, “Sages, leave your contemplations; brighter visions beam afar; Seek the Great Desire of Nations; Ye have seen His natal star.” Of course, the direct reference of the lyric points to the Magi (the sage foreigners) who saw the brighter vision of the Christmas star and went to check it out (see Matthew 2:1-12). However, this brighter vision need not be confined to only the first century.

A very common miracle that Jesus worked was giving sight to the blind. This is both a physical miracle and a picture of what He does for you and me — gives us spiritual eyes so we can see who He really is (Matthew 13:10-17).

Two thousand years after the birth of Jesus, He still wants us to see Him for who He really is . . . the Son of God, and the Savior of the World. May the eyes of our hearts be enlightened so that we may know Him (and the blessing He gives to us) more this year (Ephesians 1:18).

Take a moment today to sing Montgomery’s song and pray for a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ this Christmas season.

Angels From the Realms of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story.
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain: Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

All creation, join in praising,
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising,
To the eternal Three in One.