One of my all time favorite carols, this classic proclamation of the Good News beautifully covers the main players in the Christmas story.
Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story,
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
God knew that the world might miss out on His timing, so He sent the angels to proclaim the Good News. The Creator came to His creation!!
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light;
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
The first people the angels spoke to were those who were the loneliest and who needed to know they weren’t forgotten: the shepherds, living on the outskirts with their flocks. The Good News had arrived!
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations,
Ye have seen His natal star;
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Not only did the angels proclaim the Good News to the shepherds, but the star over Bethlehem attracted the attention of several wise men in a far off land, who had studied the prophecies and understood the King was being born.
His timing is such that He not only sent an angel to Mary to let her know she would bear the Messiah, but set a star alignment in the sky which would draw seekers outside of the Jewish faith to come to Him.
God was already letting us know He was coming for all:
Those who were in the family, those who were on the outskirts, and those seeking from afar.
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship, come and worship, Worship Christ, the newborn King!
I love this Carol in part because of the fourth verse. We are part of the Christmas story, saints.
All of Christmas was done with us in mind.
To draw attention to the reality that God had always had us on His mind, and was always willing to pour out His heart of love for His Beloved.
What a carol to proclaim to the world, indeed!
All of us have one song to sing, this Christmas and every day: Come and worship Him!
May His song arise within you, and pour out in His praise again today!

Historical Background:
Irishman James Montgomery penned the words, and Henry Smart composed the music for “Angels from the Realms of Glory” in 1816.
Fun Fact: In the UK, “Angels we have Heard on High” is also sung to this tune!