"Gloria in Excelsis" - The Angels' Song (Luke 2:1-20, Psalm 2:1-20)
Rev. Tim Leslie, December 15, 2024Part of the Songs of the Incarnation series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Rome was at its zenith. The emperor sent a decree to all the known world that the people should be registered for the tax roll. A Jew, Judas of Galilee, started a rebellion against the census, holding that the Old Testament forbade taxing. His rebellion attacked both Romans and compliant Jews. Psalm 2 looks ahead to Jesus in the womb and beyond; the nations were closing in on the baby in the womb. Israel was at the crossroads of the known world and was at the center of the rebellion against God. Jesus was an "alien" from heaven, yet He upheld the world. He became a great teacher at a young age in Jerusalem, yet he went home to Galilee in obedience on His way to crucifixion. Believers are born as natives in the world and yet are born anew, becoming aliens upheld by the word of His power, waiting for His return. Jesus is the true peacemaker announced by the angels to shepherds over sheep that were destined as sacrifices in the temple. Most angelic appearances are frightening, yet this visitation announcing the Savior was joyous, even though accompanied by the heavenly host, a mighty angelic army. The Savior was the promise of God's glory come among us, transforming war into peace, and impelling us to come to Jesus. A meeting between the shepherds and Mary followed, bringing to her mind her visitation by Gabriel and leading her to put all the pieces of the Incarnation together. We, likewise, look at the great treasure of God with us, putting it together in our minds and returning to our work overflowing with joy, just as the shepherds did.
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Luke 2:1–20 (Listen)
2:1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
(ESV)
Psalm 2 (Listen)
2:1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
(ESV)