Thursday, August 27, 2009, 6:23 a.m. – I woke to this song:
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing / Charles Wesley / Mendelssohn / Cummings
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Ezekiel 2:1-3:15:
My Understanding: As I read the words to this hymn (Christmas Carol) and the words to this passage of scripture, I was immediately conflicted. The song states: “Peace on earth,” yet this passage of scripture is clearly not speaking of peace on the earth but is rather speaking of a calling to give out God’s messages of judgment and of warnings to rebellious people to turn from their rebellion and their wickedness and to turn back to Almighty God. So, in trying to understand the connection, I did a word search in the Bible (NT) on “peace on earth” and this is what I found:
1. Matthew 10:34 – Jesus’ words: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
2. Luke 2:14 - "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
3. Luke 12:49 & 51– Jesus’ words: [Not Peace but Division] "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” - “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
4. Colossians 1:20 - “… and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Luke 12:49-51:
The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Matthew 10:34-39:
These two commentaries basically summarize this passage of scripture in Ezekiel. This is the cost of being Jesus’ disciples, just like Ezekiel was a servant of the LORD. As disciples of Christ Jesus, we are all called to be his witnesses and to live our lives pleasing unto the Lord. We will face rejection, persecution, hatred and perhaps even loss of life for the sake of the gospel. The peace that Jesus brings is not peace to the earth or peace in horizontal relationships, but rather he gives us inward peace (Luke 2:14) and he gives us vertical peace between us and the Father (Col. 1:20).
Ezekiel knew the cost of following God, yet he did not do this in his own strength. God told him to stand on his feet, yet the passage continues by stating that The Spirit came into him and raised him to his feet and then he heard God speaking to him. We can not serve God or be witnesses for him in our own power and in our own strength. We must be completely dependent upon the Lord for our every breath and our every word.
God told Ezekiel that he was sending him to a rebellious people. Jesus said that he came to save sinners, not the righteous, so God is going to send us to people living in rebellion against God. They may not want to hear what God gives us to say to them. In fact, he says the people are “obstinate and stubborn.” We will face some “obstinate and stubborn” people in our witnessing and in our sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ – people who won’t want to hear it. Yet, like Ezekiel, our calling to be Jesus’ witnesses is not dependent upon whether people listen or not. Our job is just to tell them. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict their hearts. We are not to be afraid of the people’s response to the gospel, either. We are just to obey God in being his witnesses to those in need of a Savior and to those in need of spiritual revival.
Hark, the Herald Angels Sing / Charles Wesley / Mendelssohn / Cummings
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. I read Ezekiel 2:1-3:15:
My Understanding: As I read the words to this hymn (Christmas Carol) and the words to this passage of scripture, I was immediately conflicted. The song states: “Peace on earth,” yet this passage of scripture is clearly not speaking of peace on the earth but is rather speaking of a calling to give out God’s messages of judgment and of warnings to rebellious people to turn from their rebellion and their wickedness and to turn back to Almighty God. So, in trying to understand the connection, I did a word search in the Bible (NT) on “peace on earth” and this is what I found:
1. Matthew 10:34 – Jesus’ words: "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
2. Luke 2:14 - "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
3. Luke 12:49 & 51– Jesus’ words: [Not Peace but Division] "I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!” - “Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division.”
4. Colossians 1:20 - “… and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Luke 12:49-51:
The Bible Knowledge Commentary on Matthew 10:34-39:
These two commentaries basically summarize this passage of scripture in Ezekiel. This is the cost of being Jesus’ disciples, just like Ezekiel was a servant of the LORD. As disciples of Christ Jesus, we are all called to be his witnesses and to live our lives pleasing unto the Lord. We will face rejection, persecution, hatred and perhaps even loss of life for the sake of the gospel. The peace that Jesus brings is not peace to the earth or peace in horizontal relationships, but rather he gives us inward peace (Luke 2:14) and he gives us vertical peace between us and the Father (Col. 1:20).
Ezekiel knew the cost of following God, yet he did not do this in his own strength. God told him to stand on his feet, yet the passage continues by stating that The Spirit came into him and raised him to his feet and then he heard God speaking to him. We can not serve God or be witnesses for him in our own power and in our own strength. We must be completely dependent upon the Lord for our every breath and our every word.
God told Ezekiel that he was sending him to a rebellious people. Jesus said that he came to save sinners, not the righteous, so God is going to send us to people living in rebellion against God. They may not want to hear what God gives us to say to them. In fact, he says the people are “obstinate and stubborn.” We will face some “obstinate and stubborn” people in our witnessing and in our sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ – people who won’t want to hear it. Yet, like Ezekiel, our calling to be Jesus’ witnesses is not dependent upon whether people listen or not. Our job is just to tell them. It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict their hearts. We are not to be afraid of the people’s response to the gospel, either. We are just to obey God in being his witnesses to those in need of a Savior and to those in need of spiritual revival.