Amazing Angels

It's not like there had been Christmas choir rehearsals in heaven - this was not part of the opening ceremonies for God's arrival on planet Earth. It was a supernatural flash mob! The angels were blown away by what God had done. By what He had become.

How do you amaze an angel?

The angels were among the first of God's creations.  They saw God make man in His own image and breathe life into him. They guarded Eden after Adam & Eve were evicted.  They saw it all. Creation. Fall. Flood. Babel. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob & Joseph. Sodom. Babylon. The Red Sea. Manna.  Joshua & Jericho. David & Goliath. David & Bathsheba — you get the picture.

Usually, it is we who are amazed when angels appear.  Amazed and terrified.  It's pretty much standard operating procedure for the appearing angel to say "Do not fear." Humans historically end up with our faces in the dirt when one of God's messengers makes an appearance.  But angels are not omniscient and they don't know the future.  When the messenger announced to the shepherds what God had done —

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 

TODAY!!!

In the town of David

The Saviour has been born!

It is the CHRIST!

The LORD!

Suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:13-14

BAM!

SUDDENLY! ANGELS EVERYWHERE!

PRAISING God!

SHOUTING

GLORY TO GOD!! 

HALLELUJAH!!

GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST!!! 

And since that day the angels have not ceased to be amazed. They are amazed at the love of God poured out on sinful man. They are amazed at what God does with spiritually bankrupt lives that are surrendered to Him. They are amazed at what our Lord suffered, all for sinner's gain. They are amazed at the love that held Him to the tree, when a word would have unleashed them. They were amazed as they watched God die.

Alone.

Angels are amazed, far more than we, when they see a person repent. Perhaps because they see how very great the disparity is between God's Holiness and our sinfulness. They know, more than we can understand, how far we fall short of the glory of God and Heaven REJOICES when a sinner, dead in their transgressions, is born again. They WHOOP it UP!!

They are still singing HALLELUJAH! They are still shouting, WONDERFUL! COUNSELOR! ALMIGHTY GOD! EVERLASTING FATHER! PRINCE OF PEACE! And they, along with all of creation, groan with anticipation for what will be revealed. They know what has been promised and they know it is coming.

FALL ON YOUR KNEES!  O, HEAR THE ANGEL VOICES!!

O NIGHT DIVINE!

O HOLY NIGHT!!