“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is certainly a song about angels, but it’s also a song about Jesus. Don’t miss the gift of Christ proclaimed by the Prophets of the Old Testament in these verses.
Christmas special
“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” is most likely one of the best-known traditional carols due in part to its prominent placement in a certain Christmas special.
Surprising connection to Scripture
I think it also has one of the most surprising connections to Scripture of all the carols.
Recognized phrases
As mentioned in a previous post, when my Bible study read through the Word, we recognized phrases throughout Scripture that reminded us of songs we knew. One such phrase that really caught our attention spoke of someone rising “with healing in his wings.” This phrase stood out immediately but we couldn’t quite place where we’d seen or heard it.
Music
We sat with it for a moment allowing the music to find the phrase in our heads, then I went in search of a hymnal in the church to confirm what was surfacing.
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
We found the phrase in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.”
Healing in wings
I realized I had sung this verse so many times over the years that I took it at face value. I don’t know that I understood what it was saying. What exactly is healing in a wing anyway?
Verse in the Bible
Imagine my surprise when that very verse showed up in the Bible. Well then, if it’s in there, then it makes sense to God. But what does it mean?
Context
First, let’s find out where it is, which will give us some context as to its meaning.
This phrase comes in the middle of the third verse of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” and follows the declaration that He, Jesus, brings light and life to everyone.
Life and light
We could just stop there, couldn’t we?
Jesus brought the gifts of life and light to all of us.
Light in the midst of darkness, into a world in darkness. And life where there was once only death.
Prince of Peace
The third verse of the Christmas carol starts out by telling us who Jesus is, the Prince of Peace. This title for our Savior comes from the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 KJV
Healing wings in Scripture
But what about the healing wings? Where are they found in Scripture?
Minor Prophet Malachi
The Scripture reference for this phrase leads us to the Old Testament and the Minor Prophet Malachi. This was one of those really cool aha moments for my Bible study when we were reading through the Bible.
Words of carol come from Bible
The wording in the hymn was so strange to me. I had sung it every Christmas but didn’t really pay attention to the text. Then when I read it in Malachi I thought, wait a minute, that’s from a Christmas carol. Wow, the words of the Christmas carol come from the Bible.
“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings;” Malachi 4:2a KJV
Just FYI, fear in this context can be likened to “show honor.” The NIV translation uses the word “revere.”
What does it mean?
Okay, great, we found it. But what does it mean?
This is the gift that’s found in this verse. Jesus brings healing. Life and light.
Gospel of Luke
In the Gospel of Luke, Zechariah sings a song about this. I find it only fitting that we turn to a song in the Bible to clarify the verse of this Christmas carol.
Zechariah is the father of John, the one who will grow up to be called “John the Baptist.” Following John’s birth, Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesies about his son John:
“’And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.’” Luke 1:76-79 NIV
Light, life, healing
Do you see the gifts of light, life, and healing?
We find healing in Jesus. The rising sun refers to His light, and it reminds me of Jesus rising after His death on the cross. Because He died for us, we have access to ultimate healing.
“By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24b
What a beautiful gift to receive this Christmas.
Want to read more about Jesus as light?
The Christmas story and the missing manger part 2
Other Christmas carols:
Christmas carols in the Scriptures – The First Noel
Christmas carols in the Scriptures – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel