December 13, 2005

Have faith in God –
In doubt no longer stay;
Have faith in God –
Trust in His Word alway;
Have faith in God –
Believe in Him today.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Angels, From the Realms of Glory

James Montgomery, 1771-1854

    An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. Luke 2:9.

    Angels, From the Realms of Glory is considered by many students of hymnody to be one of our finest Christmas hymns. In a unique style it addresses first the angelic chorus in the first stanza, then the shepherds in the second, the wise men in the third, and finally today's believers--calling all to worship Christ our King. Worship is the very essence of the entire Christmas story.
    James Montgomery was known as a deeply devoted, noble person who made an important contribution to English hymnody through his many inspiring texts. At the age of 23 he was appointed editor of the weekly Sheffield Register in London, maintaining this position for the next 31 years. As editor of this paper Montgomery championed many different causes, such as the abolition of slavery. Angels, From the Realms of Glory first appeared as a poem in Montgomery's newspaper on December 24, 1816. Later it was published in a hymnal titled Montgomery's Original Hymns and was known as "Good Tidings of Great Joy to All People".

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.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

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.

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.

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’ eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission