Interesting Green: Reflection - Angels from the Realms of Glory

Source (book): "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Chapter 1, "Angels from the Realms of Glory", Page 22.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

PHOTO: Consider the responses of the various human characters mentioned in the hymn.
The central theme is a call to worship Christ, as the Christian story is retold in beautiful verse. The song includes the angels, shepherds, and sages (magi from the East) - as told in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

We are reminded of how the magi, upon seeing the child Jesus, "bowed down and worshipped him" (Matthew 2:11), presenting the gifts they had bought with them to pay homage to Him and to honour Him. We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.

The Shepherds rushed off to see the newborn baby and found Him, possibly with the help of some light coming from where the manager was. "Yonder shines the infant light" (Stanza 2) expresses how light had broken into the darkness, a humble expression of a glorious, earth-shaking event. Seeing the Christ-child, the shepherds were persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost.

The magi are the subject of the third stanza. They are encouraged to leave aside worldly wisdom and knowledge, and to pursue a greater treasure, "the Desire of nations". Here was not the God of the philosophers or the astrologers, but one who came down from heaven to find us. If we searched the roots of all serious human pursuits (whether philosophy, science, poetry, or religion) we will find a quest for the God who made us and loves us, a God who was revealed in Christ. This the magi discovered, as they followed His "natal star" and found Him.

The last four stanzas go beyond the key "characters" in the Christmas story to speak about the implications of the Christmas event for all the world.

The fourth stanza addresses the "saints" - people like old Simeon in Jerusalem, who was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). The Holy Spirit moved him to visit the temple, where eight-day old Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph to be circumcised according to the law. Simeon was convinced by the Holy Spirit that the baby he saw was the long-waited Messiah promised by God (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). He broke into praise, thanking God that "my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:30).

There was also a very old prophetess, Anna, who had spent many years living on the temple grounds, fasting and praying as she waited for the Messiah (Luke 2:36-38). When she saw the newborn child, she "gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all" (Luke 2:38). Simeon and Anna were the faithful people of Israel, who had aged while bending low before the altar in prayerful anticipation of the Messiah. God answered their prayers when they saw Him appear in the temple in the form of a baby. The Messiah had come.

The fifth stanza is addressed to all sinners, including we who sing. The Christmas event has much to say to us, and promises to change our destiny. Because we have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23), we must all suffer the terrible consequences of our sins (Romans 6:23). We are doomed to "endless pains" (see Matthew 25:46) because we have acted against God by ignoring and disobeying Him. But God has sent His Son Jesus Christ. In Him we experience God's justice and mercy, as represented by the cross on which He paid the penalty for our sins. God's justice demands that the penalty must be paid (Romans 6:23). But there is no one among us who can settle the matter because we have all sinned. So God acted in mercy by sending His own Son to pay the price: "Christ paid the price to free us from the curse" (Galatians 3:13, GW).

The sixth stanza declares that the baby of Christmas is no ordinary baby. He will sit on His Father's throne in heaven (Revelation 3:21). All the nations will gather in His presence (Revelation 7:9). And every knee will bow and acknowledge who He is and what He has done (Philippians 2:10; see Isaiah 45:23 which demonstrates that in receiving such worship, He shows His divinity). In another sense, all the nations will be gathered before Christ, who will return as the judge of all, who will separate the "sheep from the goats" and separate all according to their final destinies (Matthew 25:31-33).

The hymn directs our attention to the triune God, to the "eternal Three in One" (Stanza 7). The Christmas event involves all three persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit came upon the virgin Mary, the power of the Most High overshadowed her, and Christ the eternally begotten Son was born on earth (Luke 1:35). It tells us that our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Grateful praise should be our response, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in. God deserves no less than this.

How would you join them in worshipping Christ?
Matthew 2:1-12 is about the wise men from the east (Magi) seeking to find the Child whom the natal star had shown them. They came because they wanted to worship this King! After searching for Him they finally found Him, and the Bible says that ‘they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy’ and ‘they fell down and worshipped Him.’ We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.

This Christmas, let’s rethink what this season is all about and worship God who came to earth as a baby, grew to be a man and died a horrific death so that we could be reconciled to God our Father. Our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Let us worship Immanuel – God with us – so that we never lose the wonder of the mercy of God to us! Grateful praise should be our response, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in. God deserves no less than this.

Like the shepherds, seeing the Christ-child, we are persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost. This Christmas let’s spend time worshipping Jesus by giving Him our all. Just as the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, so let’s surrender afresh our lives to Jesus.

My prayer is that I would seek Jesus as wholeheartedly as did the wise men, and that I would worship Him with the same passion with which they worshipped Him. I am committed to ‘rejoice exceedingly with great joy’ and ‘bowing down to worship Him.’

What would you say to Him to express your reverence and gratitude?
"Dear Lord, Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to suffer and died for us, so that we have the offer of Salvation. Through Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!"

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PHOTO: Angels from the realms of glory
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Consider the responses of the various human characters mentioned in the hymn. How would you join them in worshipping Christ? What would you say to Him to express your reverence and gratitude?

Consider the responses of the various human characters mentioned in the hymn. [1]
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 contemplation,
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 th'eternal Three in One.

(Source: Richard R. Chope. Carols for Use in Church [London: William Clowes & Sons. 1894] #3)

History of the Carol [1]
The writer of the carol, James Montgomery, was a poet and publisher who went to prison twice on charges of sedition. He was a man with a social conscience, who spoke against social ills and supported Christian charity and missions.

PHOTO: James Montgomery, writer of the carol 'Angels from the realms of glory'
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James Montgomery was born in Scotland on 4 November 1771. His parents were Moravian Christians, a group connected with the Anabaptist movement that emerged during the Reformation of the sixteenth century. His father was a Moravian pastor and missionary. When he was five, his family moved to join a Moravian community in Ireland. At the age of seven, Montgomery was sent to a Moravian school in Yorkshire, England, to be trained as a pastor. Meanwhile, his parents left for the West Indies as missionaries, but died shortly thereafter. At school, Montgomery read poetry books and developed an interest in the subject.

Montgomery left school at the age of 16 and worked in a couple of places as an assistant to a baker and then to a storekeeper, but he found these job uninteresting and was soon on his way to find more meaningful work. By now he was writing poems and enjoying literary pursuits.

He went to London to find a publisher for his poems, but was unsuccessful. He then left for Sheffield, where he became an assistant to Joseph Gales, the editor of the Sheffield Register, which was known for its critical articles against the political establishment. The editor fled England to avoid political persecution, and the newspaper was taken over by Montgomery, who changed its name to the Sheffield Iris. He became its editor, a position he occupied for 32 years.

In his initial years as editor, Montgomery got into trouble with the authorities for publishing articles that were deemed seditious. He was imprisoned twice. He had published a poem to commemorate the fall of the Bastille. He had also written an article criticising a magistrate for using force to disperse a political protest in Sheffield. Montgomery spent his prison terms writing a little book of poems, Prison Amusements, which he published after his release. The book brought him fame in Sheffield.

Montgomery wrote poems against slavery and the lottery, showing a Christian social conscience; he became well-known for his philanthropy. He published his poems, which included book-length epic hymns. He also wrote about 400 hymns (of which about 100 are still being sung today), and published them in three hymnals - Songs of Zion: Being Imitations of Psalms (1822); The Christian Psalmist (1825) (containing 103 of his hymns) and Original Hymns for Public, Private and Social Devotion (1853). He was a pioneer in writing the first missionary hymns in English at a time when there was growing interest in overseas missions.

Montgomery published his Christmas carol, "Angels from the Realms of Glory", in the Sheffield Iris on Christmas Eve of 1816. It began to be sung in churches after it was included in Montgomery's 1825 The Christian Psalmist and the Religious Tract Society's The Christmas Box; or, New Year's Gift.

The song was sung to different tunes till 1928, when the tune "Regent Square", written in 1867 by Henry Thomas Smart (1813-1879), an almost totally blind organist and composer in England, became the standard tune. It was published that same year in the English Presbyterian hymnal Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship.

Montgomery, who never married, died in his sleep in 1854 at the age of 82, a day after he had written his last hymn.

PHOTO: Montgomery, who never married, died in his sleep in 1854 at the age of 82, a day after he had written his last hymn.
Artwork by Ron DiCianni - Spiritual Warfare
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Biblical Insights from the Carol [1]
The central theme is a call to worship Christ, as the Christian story is retold in beautiful verse. The song includes the angels, shepherds, and sages (magi from the East) - as told in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.

PHOTO: The central theme is a call to worship Christ, as the Christian story is retold in beautiful verse. The song includes the angels, shepherds, and sages (magi from the East) - as told in the gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Picture posted by Javier Valero@celebriTOONS on 25 December 2018

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We are reminded of how the magi, upon seeing the child Jesus, "bowed down and worshipped him" (Matthew 2:11), presenting the gifts they had bought with them to pay homage to Him and to honour Him. We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.

The first stanza focuses on the angels, who were sent to bring good news to a world that was in darkness. At the time of the birth of Jesus, there was a flurry of angelic activity, connecting the "realms of glory" (heaven) with the earth. God was in action; the angels were in action, for as it was at creation, it was also now at the birth of the Son of God. God was doing something new, creating a new spiritual reality through the incarnation of Christ.

PHOTO: The angels bring good news to a world that was in darkness. At the time of the birth of Jesus, there was a flurry of angelic activity, connecting the "realms of glory" (heaven) with the earth.
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The second stanza focuses on the shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. It was a cold and dark world, without much hope. Then God's light broke through - "the glory of the Lord shone around them" (Luke 2:9). The angels brought a message of hope and peace:

Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests. (Luke 2:14)

The Shepherds rushed off to see the newborn baby and found Him, possibly with the help of some light coming from where the manager was. "Yonder shines the infant light" (Stanza 2) expresses how light had broken into the darkness, a humble expression of a glorious, earth-shaking event. Seeing the Christ-child, the shepherds were persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost.

PHOTO: The second stanza focuses on the shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. It was a cold and dark world, without much hope. Then God's light broke through - "the glory of the Lord shone around them" (Luke 2:9). The angels brought a message of hope and peace:
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The magi are the subject of the third stanza. They are encouraged to leave aside worldly wisdom and knowledge, and to pursue a greater treasure, "the Desire of nations". Here was not the God of the philosophers or the astrologers, but one who came down from heaven to find us. If we searched the roots of all serious human pursuits (whether philosophy, science, poetry, or religion) we will find a quest for the God who made us and loves us, a God who was revealed in Christ. This the magi discovered, as they followed His "natal star" and found Him.

PHOTO: The magi are encouraged to leave aside worldly wisdom and knowledge, and to pursue a greater treasure, "the Desire of nations". This the magi discovered, as they followed His "natal star" and found Him.
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The last four stanzas go beyond the key "characters" in the Christmas story to speak about the implications of the Christmas event for all the world.

The fourth stanza addresses the "saints" - people like old Simeon in Jerusalem, who was "waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25). The Holy Spirit moved him to visit the temple, where eight-day old Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph to be circumcised according to the law. Simeon was convinced by the Holy Spirit that the baby he saw was the long-waited Messiah promised by God (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2). He broke into praise, thanking God that "my eyes have seen your salvation" (Luke 2:30).

PHOTO: The Holy Spirit moved old Simeon, a 'saint' in Jerusalem, to visit the temple, where eight-day old Jesus was brought by Mary and Joseph to be circumcised according to the law. Simeon was convinced by the Holy Spirit that the baby he saw was the long-waited Messiah promised by God (Deuteronomy 18:15; Isaiah 9:6-7; Micah 5:2).
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There was also a very old prophetess, Anna, who had spent many years living on the temple grounds, fasting and praying as she waited for the Messiah (Luke 2:36-38). When she saw the newborn child, she "gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all" (Luke 2:38). Simeon and Anna were the faithful people of Israel, who had aged while bending low before the altar in prayerful anticipation of the Messiah. God answered their prayers when they saw Him appear in the temple in the form of a baby. The Messiah had come.

PHOTO: When Anna, a very old prophetess, saw the newborn child, she "gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all" (Luke 2:38). Simeon and Anna were the faithful people of Israel, who had aged while bending low before the altar in prayerful anticipation of the Messiah. God answered their prayers when they saw Him appear in the temple in the form of a baby. The Messiah had come.
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The fifth stanza is addressed to all sinners, including we who sing. The Christmas event has much to say to us, and promises to change our destiny. Because we have all sinned against God (Romans 3:23), we must all suffer the terrible consequences of our sins (Romans 6:23). We are doomed to "endless pains" (see Matthew 25:46) because we have acted against God by ignoring and disobeying Him. But God has sent His Son Jesus Christ. In Him we experience God's justice and mercy, as represented by the cross on which He paid the penalty for our sins. God's justice demands that the penalty must be paid (Romans 6:23). But there is no one among us who can settle the matter because we have all sinned. So God acted in mercy by sending His own Son to pay the price: "Christ paid the price to free us from the curse" (Galatians 3:13, GW).

At the cross, we see God's justice and compassion meeting to save us from our sins. What is required is repentance on our part, and turning to Christ in faith. Then, our sad destiny will be changed. Instead of endless pains, we all be blessed with endless gains. We will be freed from the chains that hold us to a cursed destiny. Jesus will break those chains as we repent and trust in Him for what He has done for us.

PHOTO: The Christmas event has much to say to us, sinners, and promises to change our destiny. We are doomed to "endless pains" because we have acted against God by ignoring and disobeying Him. But God has sent His Son Jesus Christ. In Him we experience God's justice and mercy, as represented by the cross on which He paid the penalty for our sins.
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http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/10/reflection-how-to-define-and-explain.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/11/reflection-jesus-our-creator-physician.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
http://veryfatoldman.blogspot.sg/2018/02/reflection-making-sure-you-go-to-jesus.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/08/reflection-imitating-christ-in-our.html
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/04/reflection-jonah-gets-second-chance_13.html

The sixth stanza declares that the baby of Christmas is no ordinary baby. He will sit on His Father's throne in heaven (Revelation 3:21). All the nations will gather in His presence (Revelation 7:9). And every knee will bow and acknowledge who He is and what He has done (Philippians 2:10; see Isaiah 45:23 which demonstrates that in receiving such worship, He shows His divinity). In another sense, all the nations will be gathered before Christ, who will return as the judge of all, who will separate the "sheep from the goats" and separate all according to their final destinies (Matthew 25:31-33).

PHOTO: The baby of Christmas is no ordinary baby. He will sit on His Father's throne in heaven. All the nations will gather in His presence. And every knee will bow and acknowledge who He is and what He has done. All the nations will be gathered before Christ, who will return as the judge of all.
Picture posted by Mark Hay on 23 December 2016 at 11:56pm
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https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/nzn5zd/baby-jesus-was-kind-of-a-dick

The hymn directs our attention to the triune God, to the "eternal Three in One" (Stanza 7). The Christmas event involves all three persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit came upon the virgin Mary, the power of the Most High overshadowed her, and Christ the eternally begotten Son was born on earth (Luke 1:35). It tells us that our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Grateful praise should be our response, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in. God deserves no less than this.

PHOTO: The Christmas event involves all three persons of the Trinity. The Holy Spirit came upon the virgin Mary, the power of the Most High overshadowed her, and Christ the eternally begotten Son was born on earth. It tells us that our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God.
Picture posted by onlineresize.club
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How would you join them in worshipping Christ? [2]
Matthew 2:1-12 is about the wise men from the east (Magi) seeking to find the Child whom the natal star had shown them. They came because they wanted to worship this King! After searching for Him they finally found Him, and the Bible says that ‘they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy’ and ‘they fell down and worshipped Him.’ We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.

PHOTO: The Bible says that the wise men from the east (Magi) 'rejoiced exceedingly with great joy' and 'they fell down and worshipped Him.' We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.
Picture posted by lusile17 on 10 December /2010 at 13:22
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This Christmas, let’s rethink what this season is all about and worship God who came to earth as a baby, grew to be a man and died a horrific death so that we could be reconciled to God our Father. Our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Let us worship Immanuel – God with us – so that we never lose the wonder of the mercy of God to us! Grateful praise should be our response, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in. God deserves no less than this.

PHOTO: Our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Grateful praise should be our response, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in. God deserves no less than this.
Artwork by Jerry Gadamus - Angel of Peace
Picture posted by WildlifePrints.com
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Like the shepherds, seeing the Christ-child, we are persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost. This Christmas let’s spend time worshipping Jesus by giving Him our all. Just as the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, so let’s surrender afresh our lives to Jesus.

PHOTO: Like the shepherds, seeing the Christ-child, we are persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost.
Artwork by Dona Gelsinger - Angel in the Arch
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My prayer is that I would seek Jesus as wholeheartedly as did the wise men, and that I would worship Him with the same passion with which they worshipped Him. I am committed to ‘rejoice exceedingly with great joy’ and ‘bowing down to worship Him.’ [2]

PHOTO: My prayer is that I would seek and worship Jesus as wholeheartedly as the wise men did. This Christmas let’s spend time worshipping Jesus by giving Him our all.
Picture posted by mobilemusic.ru
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What would you say to Him to express your reverence and gratitude?
"Dear Lord, Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to suffer and died for us, so that we have the offer of Salvation. Through Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!"

PHOTO: "Dear Lord, Thank you for sending Jesus Christ to suffer and died for us, so that we have the offer of Salvation. Through Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!"
Picture saved by Boghici Vily to jesus - Pencil Drawings Of Jesus
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https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/06/reflection-do-we-reflect-gods-heart-how.html

PHOTO: "Dear Lord, We are reminded of how the magi, upon seeing the child Jesus, ‘bowed down and worshipped him’, presenting the gifts they had bought with them to pay homage to Him and to honour Him. We are called to do the same as we recall the Christmas story and the reality of Christ in our lives and in the world.

Like the shepherds, seeing the Christ-child, we are persuaded that God had come to reside with men; we are no longer alone and lost. Please help us to spend time worshipping Jesus by giving Him our all. Just as the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, help us to surrender afresh our lives to Jesus.

We are doomed to ‘endless pains’ because we have acted against God by ignoring and disobeying Him. But God has sent His Son Jesus Christ. In Him we experience God's justice and mercy, as represented by the cross on which He paid the penalty for our sins.

Our salvation is the united work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and that we are eternally indebted to this triune God. Please accept our grateful praise, an act that the whole of creation is invited to participate in.

We would like to seek Jesus as wholeheartedly as did the wise men, and that we would worship Him with the same passion with which they worshipped Him. Please help us to commit to ‘rejoice exceedingly with great joy’ and ‘bowing down to worship Him.’

Thank You for sending Jesus Christ to suffer and died for us, so that we have the offer of Salvation. All of us can then have joy and real rest for eternity in heaven together with You.

Through Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!"
Picture posted by Natali on Sunday, 04 January 2015 - Angels from the Realms of Glory
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Reflection - Angels from the Realms of Glory
Question from source (book): "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Chapter 1, "Angels from the Realms of Glory", Page 22.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012

Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html

"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html

"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html

Reference

[1] From "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Copyright © 2018 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-11-6752-2, Chapter 1, "Angels from the Realms of Glory", Page 13-22.

[2] Phil Courson, Christmas is About Worship!, posted on 14 December 2013, https://liveabundantgrace.com/christmas-worship/

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