Sermon notes, First Advent

INTRODUCTION
Individual angels, particularly the angel of Yahweh, appear regularly in the Old Testament (Genesis 16:7, 11; Exodus 14:19; Numbers 22:23-24; Judges 13:3; 2 Kings 1:3, 15). Occasionally, individual angels are named (Daniel 8:16; 10:13, 21). Far less frequently, groups of angels appear (Genesis 19:1 [a pair]; 28:12; 32:1; Job 4:18; Psalm 78:49; 91:11; 103:20; 148:2). Nowhere in the Old Testament, however, is there a cluster of angelic appearances like we find at the beginning of the gospel story (Matthew 1:20; 24, 2:13, 19; Luke 1:11, 26; 2:10-15). What's going on?

THE TEXT
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. . . ." (Luke 2:1-20).

MESSENGERS
America has been obsessed with angels in recent years; they appear regularly on Broadway and on TV. Meanwhile, Christians frequently ignore angels. Sure they exist, we think, but they don't really do much. Scripture, however, has a surprising amount to say about angels. Angels apparently carry out the Lord's will in the natural world (Psalm 104:4). Angels protect God’s people (Psalm 91:11; Matthew 4:6), and ministered to Jesus after his temptation (Matthew 4:11). Angels delivered the law (Galatians 3:19). Angels were apparently called to train human beings to rule the earth; they were the drill sergeants that put humanity through basic training. Above all, angels are messengers. In both Hebrew (malak) and Greek (aggelos) the word translated as "angel" means "messenger." But what is there specific role at the incarnation?

HEAVEN AND EARTH
Angels live in heaven, in the presence of Yahweh. They surround Him as His "hosts" or "armies" (Psalm 103:20-21; 148:2), just as a king is surrounded courtiers, retainers, and troops. Angels stand at the ready to be deployed to do Yahweh’s bidding. They also continuously worship Yahweh in heaven (Revelation 4-5), as the priestly and Levitical choir continuously praised Yahweh with voices and instruments in the temple. Whenever an angel appears on earth, he arrives from heaven. When angels appear at the birth of Jesus, they are bringing heaven to earth. As they sing to the shepherd, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men" (Luke 2:14). Jesus is heaven on earth, heaven become flesh, and so it is fitting that he should be surrounded, as His Father is, by angelic hosts.

NEW CREATION
Throughout his gospel, Matthew refers to "heaven" and "earth" (6:10; 16:19; 18:18-19; 28:2), sometimes using the phrase "heaven and earth" (5:18; 11:25; 28:18). Ultimately, this usage goes back to Genesis 1:1 and 2:1-4, and refers to the whole of creation. Because of Adam’s sin, heaven and earth are out of sync. Matthew's gospel tells us that through Jesus the Last Adam, there is an outpost of heaven on earth, and that earth will come back into harmony with heaven. The appearance of the angels are a sign of this renewal of creation. Angels sang when the foundation stone was laid for the first creation (Job 38:7). In the manger is the firstborn of the new creation, and so the angels return to sing again.

posted by Peter J. Leithart on Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 02:16 PM

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