CHAPTER 7
HEAVEN SINGS
Praise is the rehearsal of our eternal song. By grace we learn to sing, and in glory we continue to sing\n- Charles Spurgeon
As we settled into our routine on that cool, quiet night in the caves around Bethlehem, little did we know what was about to unfold. The stars twinkled like diamonds, and the only source of light was the flickering fire. The air was crisp and still, providing a sense of tranquility. It was just another night of tending to our sheep.
We were sharing stories and laughter when it happened, a brilliant light pierced the night. We quickly shielded our eyes, our hearts pounding with a mix of fear and curiosity. The brightness was unlike anything we had ever seen, and in our
wildest dreams, we could not have imagined what was about to unfold before us.
As our eyes adjusted to the brilliance of the light, we saw them—angelic figures, glowing with an otherworldly brilliance. Their robes shimmered like liquid silver, and their faces too bright to look upon. The sky had split open and the shining beings were all above us.
I fell to my knees trembling in awe. What was happening? They were a huge group, like an army of mighty warriors, too many to count, filling the sky. Then we all heard their voices, clear and melodious, filling the air with a celestial texture that I cannot describe. It was at that moment that I realized these shining ones were singing.
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." They screamed effortlessly. The voices were so loud it was deafening and pleasant at the same time. The melody flowed like a river, carrying with it a sense of awe and wonder that I had never experienced before.
As the angelic choir continued to sing, I felt an overwhelming mix of emotions. Fear had given way to a sense of joy, and a longing stirred within me—a longing to know them and join them.
And then, as quickly as they had appeared, the luminous beings began to fade. The opening in the sky closed and the brilliance dimmed, returning the night sky to its familiar darkness.
But their song lingered in the air, echoing in my heart and ears. I exchanged astonished glances with my fellow shepherds, each of us struggling to find words to express what we had just witnessed. We were stunned and silent.
As the echoes of the angelic chorus faded, a deep sense of purpose settled over me. I knew that I had to see for myself the One they sang about—this Messiah who had been born in Bethlehem. Leaving our sheep behind, we started to walk toward town guided by something greater than ourselves.
Arriving in Bethlehem, we found a humble stable, and there, lying in feed trough, was a baby—Jesus. It was as if the radiance of the angels' presence still lingered around Him. In that simple scene, surrounded by the animals and the soft glow of a single lamp, I knew that I was in the presence of someone extraordinary.
As I gazed upon that tiny, vulnerable form, I couldn't help but be filled with a profound sense of awe and gratitude. The angels' song had led us here, to witness the beginning of a new chapter in human history—the birth of a Savior who would bring peace and goodwill to all.
The memory of that night, of the army choir and the journey to the stable, would stay with me forever. It was a reminder that even in the midst of the ordinary, the extraordinary could break through. And as I looked at the infant Jesus, I knew that His presence was a promise of hope, love, and divine grace that would resonate through time, echoing in the hearts of all who encountered Him.
ANGELS
One of the famous accounts of humans hearing angels sing is when the angel army visited the shepherds at the birth of Jesus.
Suddenly a great army of heaven's angels appeared with the angel, singing praises to God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth\nto those with whom he is pleased!"\nLuke 2:12-13 GNT
A massive group of celestial beings, organized and trained to fight, is singing in glorious discourse their anthem of praise to their Creator, affirming the truth that angels sing.
We know that angels sing because the first voices that sang were those in heaven—before time and creation. No one witnessed it except God and the angels. This momentous event took place when God informed Job that He spoke all of creation into existence, and in joyful response, the angels burst into song.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?...As the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy. Job 38:4,7
The earth’s advent was witnessed by the heavenly host which are described as “morning stars” and “sons of God.” Literal stars, as we know them, were not created until the fourth day day of creation, so this is a reference to shining celestial
beings. Special celestial beings who were created before the earth and were given the capacity to sing.
Then the Bible shows us that at the disappearance of the earth, angels sing. Jesus' cousin John wrote this while he was in prison on Patmos:
I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne ...And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered— to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” Revelation 5:11,12
Just imagine the volume, the sound, and the passion of millions of celestial beings encircling the throne and the Lamb, singing in unison the purest praise to Jesus and His Father. This seven-fold blessing to Jesus resonated through the heavens with melodic nuances that mortals had never heard before.