Hark! The Herald Angels Sing is one of the four most popular hymns in the English language. The words come from the prolific pen of Charles Wesley who, with his brother John, founded the Methodist church. During his lifetime, Charles wrote over 6,500 hymns, many of which are still sung today. Charles authored this carol around 1739, a year after his conversion.
Music is a powerful teacher. A person can retain more from learning one well-written song than from a dozen sermons. Charles Wesley realized that he could communicate eternal truths to his new converts through song. In a succinct way, Wesley touches on the eternal truths of the Gospel. The second verse notes: Christ, by highest heaven adored Christ, the everlasting Lord. Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin's womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity. Pleased as man with men to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel.
The song expresses the deity of Christ, His preexistence and coming to earth, and the virgin birth. In his third verse, Wesley builds on biblical titles of our Lord to teach about His present-day work in our lives, and being born again. One may not have been schooled in theology or had years of intensive Bible training, but singing and believing the words of this song gives a good start to a solid understanding of the eternal truths of Scripture.
“And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:16-17 KJV
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