One thing I really enjoy is learning the story behind Christian hymns! And also slowing down to reflect on the words and what they actually mean. Because we sing the same songs year after year, I think they can lose some of their significance to us. Do we just learn the lyrics as kids and sing them on autopilot without much thought about the words and profound truths we are uttering? A few years ago during Christmas season of 2021, I wrote a blog detailing the meaning and background of the famous Christmas poem turned hymn, “Joy to the World.” You can find that here if you are interested in reading it! This year I feel led to do the same for the hymn, “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
It is widely accepted that this beautiful hymn originated in France around 1842 and was called “Les Anges dans nos campagnes,” or in English, “The angels in our countryside.” It was sung to the tune of the traditional French carol, “Gloria.” The original author is unknown, but twenty years later, in 1862, the song was translated to English by Bishop James Chadwick of England. Although some of the lyrics changed, the musical composition stayed the same as the original. So when we sing it, we are singing the same notes Christians in France did in the 1800’s. Don’t you that feeling of being connected to believers from other centuries, countries, etc.?
The lyrics of “Angels We Have Heard on High” are biblically inspired by the account of angels appearing to shepherds to proclaim the Savior’s birth, found in The Book of Luke. The famous Latin chorus “Gloria! In excelsis Deo!” is taken directly from Luke 2:14a…where the angels prolaim, “Glory to God in the highest!”
“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.” Luke 2:8-20
"Seeing Shepherds" by Artist Daniel Bonner
I came across this painting as I was searching for some images for this post… and it really moved me! It actually kind of took my breath away. I love it so much that I purchased a digital download of it. In my opinion, this piece depicts “a multitude of the heavenly host” better than anything I have ever personally seen before! The word “host” is used biblically to describe an army. It other words, an army of angels appeared to the shepherds, praising God together and singing greetings of peace and goodwill to men on earth. Phew, can you even imagine experiencing this?!
Last Sunday at church we sang “Angels We Have Heard of High” and I was chuckling to myself remembering that when I was a kid I used to think the chorus said, “In ex Chelsey’s Deo!” But as I pondered my childhood innocence in that, it was also sobering to think about how often I really have ascribed glory to myself that belongs to The Lord. Probably much more than I realize and definitely more than I’d like to admit! In all honesty, I value recognition and affirmation (too much), and tend to get hurt or frustrated when people don’t seem to notice or acknowledge my efforts or good deeds. Sadly, rather than being ok with the fact that God knows and sees, and only wanting Him to receive the glory for anything He is doing through me… I sometimes become a simmering pot of resentment. And it does not help that my sinful flesh, Satan and the world are constantly telling me that this is completely acceptable. But as you can see in the verses below, we have it all backwards:
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
What better example of this than angels appearing to lowly shepherds in the night? They did not appear to the priests in the temple or the king in the palace. A.k.a. the places we are trying so hard to get to! Paul was reminding the Corinthian Church here is that the world’s system is the opposite of God’s system. This past summer, I had a lightbulb moment relating to this truth. As I was working through what growth looks like in my life, an image of two graphs came to mind:
There is a constant pull to be on the upward trajectory of the world… more money, more likes & followers on social media, more knowledge, more stuff, more items to add to my resume, more respect from my peers, etc. But in various ways, God has been whispering a message to me over and over to “get back to the basics.” In other words, make my way back down to the foundation of faith and the gospel. He is showing me that true growth as a Christian is the way of humility and giving God all the glory rather than seeking it for myself, which requires grace, self-examination and repentance.
As I was reading my devotional this morning, the theme of God’s glory was part of the Scripture reading for today, which is no coincidence! God speaks to me that way often. It was from Isaiah 48:11, and says, “I will not give my glory to another.” This is serious business and I ask that you take the time to truly reflect and ask yourself, “what do I glory in?” Is it your position, wealth, character, power, fame, accomplishments, intelligence or good deeds? If so, I can’t think of a better time than now to humbly “come adore on bended knee, Christ the Lord, the newborn King.” I pray your reaction to the reality of Christmas will be the same as the shepherds. “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Let’s get back to basics this Christmas. We can be at peace with being foolish, weak and despised because He alone is our wisdom, holiness and redemption! We will never find those things trying to climb the world’s ladder.
These are a couple of photos I took at Silver Dollar City amusement park in Branson, Missouri. If you have never been at Christmas time, I cannot recommend it enough!
Wishing you a very merry Christmas!
Chelsey this was beautiful. Your blog is special to me. You cover so many subjects that i believe in and remind me of what Jim taught me in health and faith. Listening to the song gave me a clearer vision of the reason for the season. May God bless you with many blessings in the new year! Merry Christmas!