Advent Daily Devotional - Day 9

Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) 

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, 
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.” 

When I think of the shepherds’ angelic visitation in Luke 2, my attention tends to fall on the message about the birth that was taking place. What an incredible thing for those shepherds, to be the first recipients of such world-shattering, life-altering, paradigm-shifting news! However, on closer reading, it dawned upon me that the angels were drawing attention to a different part of their message. The report of the birth of Christ is actually delivered by a single angel; however, the whole ‘heavenly host’ appears only to sing verse 14, the line Spurgeon dubbed ‘the first Christmas carol’. Given the awe-inspiring delivery, there is something about this part we’re supposed to take to heart. 

So, what was it they were signposting? These heavenly beings came to convey that, in the hierarchy of God’s glorious actions throughout (and outside of) history, His highest is the outpouring of peace and goodwill upon human beings, including those who work in fields, out in the cold, with blisters on their hands and bags under their eyes. And, if their mighty chorus is anything to go by, the angels think this is the most incredible thing they’ve ever heard. 

This wasn’t the first time that these angels had seen a glimmer of this great message. They had witnessed God’s grace to His people for thousands of years, unwavering despite their inconstancy. In Peter’s first epistle, when talking about the gospel of the Lord Jesus, the apostle exclaims how ‘even angels long to look into these things’ (1 Peter 1:12), an idea evident even in the design of the ark of the covenant, where golden cherubim are positioned to gaze at the mercy seat where God would meet with His people, pouring out blessing and forgiveness (Exodus 25:20). Now, here was the truest expression of this ancient grace: God dwelling with His people, not merely within a tabernacle or temple, but as one of them, flesh and blood. 

What strikes me as incredible is that this outpouring of praise came from beings who were not themselves the recipients of the grace they were glorifying—and yet, they thought it so beautiful that their praises filled the skies. What must the shepherds have thought on realising that this whole heavenly host had come just to tell them, the most ordinary of ordinary guys, that they were to be the beneficiaries of God’s goodwill, and his peace?  

Question 

As you grow to understand that this is just as much for you too, what do you think and feel? How might you live today differently in the light of that truth and feeling? 

Today's devotional was written by Eliza Bailey.