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Hark! Hallelujah
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” was written by Charles Wesley, an English Methodist leader and hymn writer. He wrote over 6,000 hymns, with the goal of teaching sound doctrine to the poor and illiterate. His brother, John Wesley, a famous theologian and the founder of the Methodist movement, said that Charles’ hymnal was the best theological book in existence.
Let’s take a moment to break down this theologically rich song. As the lyrics progress, we see three things: praise, presence, and promise.
1. Praise
Hark! The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
The first response to the coming of Jesus is praise. Everyone is celebrating, because this means the atonement for mankind has arrived—our Redeemer has come! Jesus single-handedly defeats the power of darkness.
2. Presence
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a virgin’s womb
Think about it. Jesus, the Son of God, chose to leave heaven and come to earth for us! He left perfection for the imperfect, to be present with us.
3. Promise
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
The birth of Jesus was no small thing. It was the fulfillment of a promise awaited for thousands of years—a promise that brings new life and a new start for all who believe. Healing, peace, comfort, and joy all stem from this moment: the birth of our salvation.
My hope is that as you hear this song you will not just hear a nostalgic melody, but you’ll join with the angels and all creation in celebrating the gift of Christ’s birth. May He fill you with His praise and His presence as you remember the great promise of our God fulfilled through the gift of Jesus Christ.
Reflect
- How do you celebrate the coming of Christ?
- Is your heart filled with joy when you think about this season?
- What can you do today to align your heart more closely with how this song portrays gratitude and praise?
—Stephen Cole
Worship with this live performance of Hark! Hallelujah with Worship Pastor Stephen Cole:
Scripture
About this Plan
The Christmas season highlights the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. How can we worship deeply in this season? Through this 9-day devotional, we want to provide the story and spiritual meaning behind several Christmas songs you know and love, and maybe some new ones as well! This Plan features several worship pastors from Life.Church Worship who are a part of the live Christmas album, Gloria.
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