Without a Heavenly Choir, Can You Sing this Song?

Imagine what it would be like to be a believer during a period when God hadn’t spoken in 400 years. In a country that had always been led first by God’s voice itself and then by prophets and priests who spoke on God’s behalf, this would be disheartening and faith-stretching. This was the setting for the third and final song in our four-part “Songs of Christmas” series. 

In the first post, The Songs of Christmas, we learned how music touches the deepest part of our souls. In Part 2, “What Silence Can Teach Us this Christmas,” we learned from Zechariah how periods of intentional silence can lead us to greater faith and a deeper awareness of what God is doing in the world. In Part 3, "Mary's Song Can Be Our Song Too, we took an up-close look at Mary, the mother of our Lord and learned how her two-part song could be our song, too. 

Today, we’ll look at the final singer in our Christmas choir – one that is, literally, a choir – a choir of angels. Perhaps the most famous of the Christmas story songs, the angels’ song to the shepherds, found in Luke 2:10 – 14, is a song of pure joy. 

Listen, if you don’t already have it memorized: 

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, 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, good will toward men. 

Don’t you LOVE those words? Like a celebration after a championship win, they crackle with excitement and triumph: GOOD TIDINGS, GREAT JOY, A SAVIOR, GLORY, PEACE, GOOD WILL! 

Who wouldn’t want to sing a song like that? 

But how did this triumphant, victorious song begin? Do you remember? “Fear not.” As a matter of fact, each of the songs came with a prelude that said, “Fear not.” When the angel spoke to Zechariah, he said, “Fear not.” 

When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said, “Fear not.” And when the heavenly host split the sky, the first words in their heavenly song was, “Fear not.” 

Why? Because angels are scary? Yes. 

But because life is scary, too. 

If I asked for a show of hands, I bet many of us would confess to being afraid. Afraid of being alone. 

Afraid of bad health or of getting older. 

Afraid there won’t be enough money to pay your bills, send your kids to college, or make it through retirement. 

Afraid of losing a loved one. 

Afraid of cancer, terrorism, or war. 

Afraid that a wayward child might never return. 

Afraid for the future of our country, our children, and our grandchildren. 

Afraid of dying. 

We live in a scary world. But the angels’ message 2,000 years ago wasn’t just for the shepherds, it was for all people: “Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior!” And this Savior came with a promise: 

We find it in Isaiah 43:1-3:

But now, this is what the LORD says -- "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; 

Every day we cross paths with people who are afraid. Many don’t know the Prince of Peace. 

They don’t have the confidence that comes from knowing the God who holds our lives in his hands. 

They don’t know the Savior who promises never to forsake us, to walk beside us all of our days, and to one day take us to heaven to live with him forever. 

And if they do know him, sometimes they need to be reminded that the same God who saved them can also keep them. This is where our song can make a difference. 

And 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 (Luke 2:17). 

The shepherds’ assignment is our assignment, too. Go and tell. 

“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen,” As we glorify and praise God and tell all the things we have heard and seen to those around us, their song becomes ours, and the gift goes on. 

This Christmas, I hope you’ll touch the deepest part of people’s hearts and share the joy of song with others. The song of belief, that comes out of intentional silence, like Zechariah. The song that tells of what God is did for us and is doing through us, like Mary. And the song of joy that announces that the Savior of the world has come, like the angels and shepherds. 

“FEAR NOT,” we join them in singing, “for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people. For unto you is born this day, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” 

 Now it’s your turn. If you’ve followed the series all the way through, which has been your favorite song? Which do you plan to sing this Christmas season? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. If you’re reading by email, click HERE to visit Hungry for God online and leave a comment.


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