Tag: Isaiah

Christmas carols in the Scriptures – Hark the Herald Angels Sing

“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

A bike and the Bible – Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah – part 11

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Isaiah, remind me of the trestles on the bike ride. We can give them a quick glance or deeper look as we connect them to their surroundings.

Trestles

On this bike ride several elements made the ride a bit shaky – gravel, dark tunnels, and now a series of trestles. Watching a train travel over a trestle was one thing, riding a bike over it was quite another.

The first trestle was really high. I preferred to ride more toward the center and away from the edges. The span wire that served as a guard rail appeared more like a suggestion than a protective barrier. Still seated on my bike I placed my foot on the equivalent of a curb and looked out across the valley – but only briefly looked down.

I could barely get up off my bike to take a look. I was finally getting used to this bike and the gravel path on which I pedaled. Adding the dimension of height and a flimsy looking barrier made this stretch of the ride a bit tenuous.

At the first trestle I did appreciate the expansive view. In the distance I noticed a parade of miniature bikes among the trees. It took me a moment to realize I was looking at riders who were farther ahead of me on the trail.

Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Isaiah

This reminds me of the next few books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Isaiah, which brought recognition to my Bible path as I connected them to other aspects of Scripture.

Solomon

Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, also known as Song of Solomon, were both written by Solomon. Yes, that Solomon, author of Proverbs, which we mentioned last week. He was also King David’s son.

Just a little insight on Solomon. He asked God for wisdom and he received. But later in life he didn’t use his God-given wisdom. He made bad choices, allowed himself to be influenced by others, and fell away from God. Ecclesiastes reflects the wrestling he experienced.

You may be familiar with Ecclesiastes chapter 3, how everything has its season.

Song of Songs presents a love story and also represents the love of Christ for His bride, the church.

Learn more about Solomon

A fun exercise might be to skim Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, in light of knowing they were all written by the same author.

For a fuller picture, go back to Solomon’s story in 1 Kings.

See patterns

Much like connecting Solomon to some books of the Bible, at this point on the trail I started to see patterns. I had seen some of these elements before – a tunnel, a bridge, and now a few trestles.

Information

We also came across information boards, either a map to show us “you are here” or some history about the train that had gone through that section.

This reminds me of the moment when I could see across the valley and note movement in the distance. Eventually I could discern the places from which I had ridden. I started to recognize where I had been which helped me better understand where I was on the route.

Scripture tie-ins

If you’ve followed me through this path in the Bible, you’ve probably started to notice some of that too, how elements and sections of Scripture tie in to other places in the Word.

Isaiah

That leads to the third book of the Bible mentioned in this post – Isaiah, the first of the prophetic books, called a Major Prophet because of its length. Minor Prophets are the shorter books.

Trestle over the water

It also brings me to the trestle that was most rewarding, the one over the water.

The creek

The creek at long last. I think I heard it before I saw it. I felt compelled to look down over the edge of this bridge with the flimsy railing – in spite of my trepidation – to see and not just hear the rushing water.

So I stepped up onto the curb and leaned over the side to see the water far below. The reward was wonderful. Not only could I hear the refreshing water but I could drink it in with my own eyes.

Appreciate the flowing water

By the time I reached that particular trestle I had enough confidence to peer over the side to really appreciate the flowing water.

Jesus

The Book of Isaiah is where we here of the promised Messiah, Jesus.

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
 And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

For me, that’s the rushing water of truth in Isaiah. The life-giving water of God’s Presence.

We can read this passage of Scripture the same way we did the Psalms. Find the aspect of the phrase that really speaks to our hearts, our situation, our need. What reassurance this provides.

If we think of God as He appears in these verses, we can receive the comfort we need in times of distress.

The rushing water of the creek below the trestle was peace like a river for my soul.

A bike and the Bible – Esther Job Psalms Proverbs – part 10

Want a few reminders about Solomon?

A bike and the Bible – 1 and 2 Kings to Nehemiah – part 9