Maranatha Blog - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

CAROLS CARRYING TRUTH

As I get older, I am amazed at depths of truth that are in some of the traditional Christmas carols that I had missed seeing previously, even though I have sung these carols many times before. For example, the other morning, Marge and I were singing together the well-known carol, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.

A line in the second verse struck me in a way that I had not noticed before.

Still through the cloven skies they come, with peaceful wings unfurled,

And still their heavenly music floats o’er all the weary world.

Above its sad and lowly plains they bend on hovr’ing wing,

And ever o’er its Babel sounds, the blessed angels sing.

A CONTRAST: HEAVENLY VS EARTHLY

Suddenly, the contrast between what was going on in the heavenly realm and what was taking place on the earthly scene really impacted me. On the very night that the angels appeared to the shepherds in their field, it was a time of many Babel sounds being expressed upon the earth.

The Roman government of the day was based upon a Babylonian system of control, forced submission and coerced taxes that was resulting in many confusing voices, conflicting opinions and chaotic thoughts and sentiments.

THE PRAISES OF HEAVEN

In contrast to those “Babel sounds” on earth, the blessed angels broke into that atmosphere with the high praises of heaven, singing a song of great joy and glad tidings for all people in that a Saviour was born on earth. He was the King who would bring peace on earth to all people of goodwill.

The thought came to me that the heavenly angels still live continually in the very atmosphere of heaven by singing the high praises of God for the things that He is doing that may be hidden from the eyes of people on the earth, and therefore require a revelation. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that we, who live in the new covenant have come “to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly (festal gathering) and church of the firstborn” (Hebrews 12:22, 23).

IN THE MIDST OF SHAKING 

In the midst of shaking and confusion going on in the kingdoms of this age, “we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken” (Hebrews 12:28). This kingdom advances as we “do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some of unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). This kingdom also advances as we join with the angelic hosts and “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God” (Hebrews 13:15).

AGREEING WITH THE ANGELS

My prayer is that as never before, at this Christmas season and throughout the coming year, that the church will increasingly shift the negative atmosphere on earth by joining our voices with the angelic hosts in agreement with heaven, and proclaim a message of glad tidings to all in that a Saviour has been born to bring peace on earth (a peace which begins in the heart), and to bring goodwill to all men and women everywhere.