Sunday Notes: Songs of Christmas: The Angels’ Song Luke 2:8-14
- (Luk 2:8 ESV) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
- This is in the area of ___________
- Where Mary and Joseph had traveled to register for the ___________
- Just outside of town in the wilderness
- Lambs were sacrificed for all sorts of things in the ___________ system
- Shepherds raised animals for this purpose
- These are normal, everyday ___________
- But we know this is no ordinary night.
- (Luk 2:9 ESV) And an ___________ of the Lord appeared to them, and the ___________ of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great ___________.
- The sky breaks open that night
- The blindingly bright light of the glory of God
- Bursts forth as the noon day sun would
- And the shepherds are absolutely ___________ to the core
- At first, fear in the pure sense of ___________
- As we would be when something surprises us
- Then something of the ___________ sets in
- When the light bursting forth does not kill them and a voice tells them not to be afraid
- Then the ___________ overcomes them
- They have just seen the night sky shine out the glory of God
- (Luk 2:10 ESV) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great ___________ that will be for all the people.
- A little on angels
- Created by God – Colossians 1:16
- They neither reproduce nor die – Luke 20:34-36
- Before the foundations of the word – Job 38:4-7
- To serve Him and to serve us as the redeemed – Hebrews 1:13-14
- Angels exist bring glory to ___________ name
- As do we
- And all of creation
- Soli Deo Gloria
- (Luk 2:11 ESV) For unto you is born this day in the city of ___________ a Savior, who is ___________ the Lord.
- (Luk 2:12 ESV) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
- The most amazing ___________ ever
- Given to the most unexpected ___________
- With the most unbelievable ___________
- (Luk 2:13 ESV) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
- Now from one angel
- Likely Garbiel the messenger
- To a party
- A heavenly host of angels
- Host – plēthos – play’-thos
- Hear our word Plethora
- A ___________
- A great number
- Matthew 26:52-54, Revelation 5:11-14
- And all of those with one singular purpose:
- ___________ God
- Because that is what the angels do
- They praise God
- Day and night
- All year long
- That is what we are created to do also
- To praise God
- Day and night
- All the time.
- (Luk 2:14 ESV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth ___________ among those with whom he is ___________!”
- A verse with a diverse list of translations
- KJV: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- NIV: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
- LSB: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
- ESV: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
- Glory to God in the ___________
- This part is pretty easy right
-
- Glory to God
- Doxa – dox’ ah
- Splendor, Majesty, Dignity, Preeminence, Kingly, Brightness
- This is two sided
- In ___________ – that means in the highest regions
- Here on earth
- And in the height of heaven
- In ___________ – God is sovereign
- 100% completely sovereign over all things
- Peace among those with whom He is pleased!
- Now this is the phrase that trips us up.
- This is a great example of the importance of a solid translation
- A literal translation puts this much more in line with the way the ESV reads:
- (Luk 2:14 ESV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
- This makes it more clear
- Peace we assume is from ___________
- And to those with whom God is ___________.
- Peace
- This could be the opposite of war
- This could be ___________ among people
- But what this peace is really getting at is greater than those both
- This is the peace of God
- This is the Messiah’s peace
- This is ___________.
- Among those with whom He is pleased
- And with whom is God pleased?
- With mankind? Not so much
- God was pleased in Christ
- Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 12:18, Matthew 17:5, Ephesians 1:5, Philppians 2:12-13, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- Can I introduce you to the greatest gift of all this year?
- That you find the peace of salvation in Christ
