A Hymn Unpacked - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The carol, “Hark! the herald angels sing,” was originally written by Charles Wesley in 1739 with later editions by George Whitfield in 1753. Rather than simply tell the nativity story, Wesley pours theological truths into this text. The first stanza tells the story of the angels proclaiming Christ’s birth. It begins with, “Hark! the herald angels sing,” meaning “listen to the angels announcing.” The announcement, “Glory to the newborn king...,” points to the passage in Luke 2:8-14, where the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds bringing good news of great joy. Namely, the birth of Christ the Lord (v. 11).
The host of heaven then proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” This peace that Luke and Wesley described was only accomplished through Christ. Through Christ, believers have been reconciled to God, thereby not having our trespasses counted against us. As such, we have peace with God.
The second and third stanzas go on to make it very clear why the angels sang. Christ, the everlasting Lord (Colossians 1:17; John 1:1), when the fullness of time had come, was sent by the Father, born of a woman, and born under the law (Galatians 4:4). In so doing, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). It is no surprise, therefore, that singers are called to “hail th’incarnate Deity.” Christ was pleased to dwell with us. He pitched his tent among us. He is our Immanuel, God with us.
In the third stanza, Christ is described as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2), which are both references to the Messiah who would bring peace among the nations of the world. The line, “Mild he lays his glory by,” points to the glorious truth of the incarnation (Philippians 2:7-8), in which the Son empties himself by taking the form of a servant, coming in the likeness of men, and then humbling himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. As in the final three lines of the stanza, Jesus does this so that we no more may die, to raise us from the earth, and to give us second birth. God has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
Simply by describing Christ, Wesley tells us the entire Gospel story. We are told of Christ’s nature, his birth and incarnation, his ministry, and his salvific purpose. Church, rejoice and sing.