So far during our Advent services, we have listened to the voices of the prophets proclaiming - proclaiming the promise of the Messiah and of the Savior. We have heard the voice of Mary responding - responding to the angel's announcement that she would be the mother of the Savior. Today, we will listen to the voice of the angels rejoicing - rejoicing that the Savior had been born. If you were to travel to Bethlehem today, you could still see the fields where the shepherds were watching their sheep when the angels appeared to them. Their message was serious, of course - it had to do with the salvation of the world. At the same time, their demeanor was joyous. The news was so good that God sent a multitude of the heavenly hosts to announce the birth of the Savior! The first passage today, in which we listen to the voice of the angels rejoicing, is…

Isaiah 6:1-3

¹ In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. ³ And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

"Seraphs" are angelic beings mentioned no where else but here in the Scriptures. They are with God in heaven rejoicing in his holiness, his power, and his glory. Just imagine them flying about covering even their faces because the glory of God is so brilliant. As they fly about, they call to one another in praising the Triune God, Holy Father, Holy Son, and Holy Spirit, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory." If the angels rejoice in God's holiness and God's power and God's glory, shouldn't we? Shouldn't we call to one another as the seraphs do, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory."?

We see the glory of God in his creation, in the beauty of nature, in the power of the ocean, in the endlessness of the universe, in the complexity of life, in bountiful crops, in the majesty of the mountains, in the brilliance of a diamond. The voice of the angels rejoicing in the holiness, power, and glory of the Triune God gave hope to the OT believers as they looked forward to the advent of the Messiah. The voice of the angels rejoicing gives us a foretaste of what heaven will be like when Christ appears at his second advent. Let's join our voices to the angels' and sing Hymn 5 (1-4) "As Angels Joyed with One Accord."

HYMN

The word "angel" means "messenger." Often, God used angels as his messengers to people on earth. An angel announced to Zechariah that he and Elizabeth would have a child and they were to call his name John. An angel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a child and should call his name Jesus. An angel told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary home as his wife because that which was conceived in her was of the Holy Spirit. Angels told the women at the tomb on Easter Sunday that Jesus was not there but that He had risen. Angels appeared to the disciples at Jesus' ascension and announced that He would come again. It only seems natural that for so great an event as the birth of his Son that God would also use angels to announce his birth. Listen to the voice of the angels rejoicing as they announce the birth of the Savior:

Luke 2:8-12

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

For over 4000 years, the world had waited for the coming of the Messiah. Isaiah had foretold the virgin birth. Micah had foretold his birthplace. Now, on that quiet night in Bethlehem, as shepherds watched their flocks by night came the good news of great joy in which even the angels rejoiced - the news that the Savior had been born! The angels rejoiced in that news. The shepherds rejoiced in that news. You and I rejoice in that news! A Savior has been born to you! The true joy of Christmas does not come from how many presents we receive, or how many parties we attend, or how big a Christmas tree we have, or how many cards we get. To truly celebrate Christ's first Advent, listen to the voice of the angel rejoicing in the good news, "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Let's sing Hymn 67 (1,2) "What Child Is This?"

Luke 2:13-14

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Even the angels rejoice in God for keeping his promises and sending the Savior. And even though Jesus did not come to save them, they rejoice in God's love, in God's glory, in God's goodness, and in the peace the Savior would bring to those on whom God's favor rests. Who are those on whom God's favor rests? God's favor rests on all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They are his children. Their sins are forgiven. They are heirs of eternal life. Let us join the angels rejoicing - rejoicing in the forgiveness of your sins and mine, rejoicing in God's unconditional love, rejoicing that our names are written in the book of life, rejoicing in the peace we have: peace of mind, peace of soul, peace of conscience, because Jesus is OUR Savior. Let's join our voices to those of the Angels rejoicing and sing Hymn 61 (1-2) "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing."

Isaiah had a glimpse of heaven when he saw the seraphs flying and praising God. The apostle John also had a vision of heaven and he too saw angels rejoicing:

Revelation 7:11-12

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Just imagine! John says that ALL the angels were standing around the throne rejoicing in God and worshiping Him. How many angels are there? There are multitudes and multitudes of angels who join their voices together in rejoicing around the throne of God and worshiping Him. Advent reminds us that Christ came, that He still comes to us in Word and Sacrament, and that He will come again. When He comes again, we will join the angels and lift our voices also in heaven in rejoicing and worship. Until that day, let us lift our voices in rejoicing and worshiping here on earth.

The Christmas holidays give us many opportunities to do just that. The Christmas carols, the Christmas story, and the special Christmas Eve service remind us of just how much we have to rejoice about. It's easy to get so involved with getting ready for Christmas that it becomes a time of stress, a time of worry, a time of overspending, and a time of weariness, rather than a time for rejoicing. If you are already beginning to feel that way, listen to the voices of the angels rejoicing. Whether we are celebrating Christ's first coming or his coming to us today, or looking ahead to his second coming, let us join our voices to those of the angels rejoicing and say, "Amen, praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever, Amen." Now, let's join our voices and sing Hymn 7 (1,4) "Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers."

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