Weekly Devotional: Glory to God in the Highest

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:10-14 NKJV)

We often sing, “Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the plains” at Christmas. The season would not be complete without “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”—Glory to God in the highest. Yet how often do we reflect upon the meaning of the words the angels declared?

The praise of the angels to the shepherds recorded in Luke’s Gospel (2:13-14) underscored the reality of God’s nearness in the birth of Jesus, as well as embodying Jewish redemptive hopes of the first century.

It also gives voice to the hope for redemption shared by Jews and Christians through the centuries. With the advent of Jesus, God draws near to His people—His goodwill is for everyone. His reign dawns through those who obey His will. He demonstrates that He is Immanuel—God with us.

The angels told the shepherds that their good news “will be to all people” (Luke 2:10). God’s goodwill is not simply for a select or chosen group of people; it extends to everyone, for “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45 NASB).

His merciful will reaches out to all mankind to bring peace, healing, and wholeness. And, in the birth of Jesus, God has drawn near to demonstrate within the bounds of history what His will is, to give voice and example to His will (see Hebrews 1:1-2).

God’s will is for all humankind. In the birth of Jesus, His glory, peace, and favor have drawn near to everyone. This is the good news the angels proclaimed: God is for us!

The message of the angels was an announcement of God’s nearness. God is for us, and He has drawn near to us. God is a part of human history; therefore, there is hope.

God has not turned a blind eye to the suffering of the righteous or a deaf ear to the cry of the afflicted. His love and mercy extends to all mankind: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

PRAYER

Father, in this Christmas, as we reflect on Your nearness and goodwill toward us, may we extend Your mercy and goodwill to everyone around us, even those who are away from you. And, in so doing, may we truly proclaim with the angels: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Amen.

Comments(4)

Jennifer McManus says
December 19, 2022 at 6:08 pm

Notice the scripture content ” swaddling cloths” not “clothes”. Those cloths were torn strips that came from levitical priests’ white robes after they had worn them while burning in the temple. According to historical experts the priests provided them to the shepherds who birthed the sacrificial lambs at Migdal Eder, that translates,, The Tower of the Flock, within the limits of Bethlehem (Ephrath, in Genesis) 5 miles from Jerusalem. Those shepherds used those cloth strips to care for the lambs to prevent injury so they would be without blemish. The cloths were one of the 2 clues to help the shepherds know where to go. They did make haste in finding the babe you know. And the other reason it happened fast was bcz the other clue was that they would find him in, correctly translated, “a birthing stall” not a feeding trough. Feeding trough were everywhere. There was only one place fo find those cloths and an important “birthing stall” where they had been before, doing their jobs as shepherds. Where David had done the same thing.
How many places around Bethlehem could have birthed lamb a over generations? Quite a few maybe. But only one of them would have cloths from priests robes in stock. Either this is true or those shepherds knocked on alot of barn doors inquiring.
- REPLY
  Larry says
  December 22, 2022 at 2:22 am
  
  Thankyou Jennifer. This is very interesting and educational insight. I would love to hear more of the lesser known interpretations of the Bible. God bless you
Jennifer McManus says
December 19, 2022 at 6:38 pm

Notice the scripture content ” swaddling cloths” not “clothes”. Those cloths were torn strips that came from levitical priests’ white robes after they had worn them while burning in the temple. According to historical experts the priests provided them to the shepherds who birthed the sacrificial lambs at Migdal Eder, that translates,, The Tower of the Flock, within the limits of Bethlehem (Ephrath, in Genesis) 5 miles from Jerusalem. Those shepherds used those cloth strips to care for the lambs, to prevent injury so they would be without blemish. The cloths were one of the 2 clues to help the shepherds know where to go. They did make haste in finding the babe, you know from the detail in Luke.. And the other reason it happened fast was because the other clue was that they would find him in, correctly translated, “a birthing stall” not a feeding trough. Feeding troughs were everywhere animals were. There was only one place fo find those cloths and an important “birthing stall” where they had been before, doing their jobs as shepherds …. where David had done the same thing.
How many places around Bethlehem could have birthed lambs over the generations? Quite a few maybe. But only one of them would have cloths from priests robes in stock. Either this is true or those shepherds knocked on alot of barn doors inquiring.
Janice White says
December 23, 2022 at 2:09 am

Luke 2:12 says “and this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger!” so why would you not accept “clothes” & want to change it to “cloths”? Also he does not say a “birthing stall” but plainly “in a manger”! Why must we change these written accounts that Luke was inspired to write⁉️

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