Originally composed by prolific hymn-writer Charles Wesley (1707-1788) in the year 1739, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing underwent several revisions through the years, most notably by the well-known 18th century evangelist George Whitefield in 1754. The lyrics that are most familiar to us today, however, were first published by the Oxford University Press in their 1961 collection “Carols for Choirs”.
Though not a large hymn in volume of words, with only three verses in the version commonly sung today, it most certainly is “large” when it comes to the themes that the lyrics speak of. Major Christian teachings are touched on throughout the carol and, in a sense, the words merely skim the surface of a deep ocean of biblical theology.
The lyrics we will focus on are found in the first verse:
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!
Wesley’s inspiration for this hymn stems from the angelic declaration to the shepherds, as recorded in Luke 2:14:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (KJV).
The context makes clear that the angels’ song is about none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. These heavenly creatures accurately sing of peace on earth as Jesus is described as the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6), and the One who, by faith in Him, brings men and women to a position of peace with God (Romans 5:1).
Wesley then writes of mercy mild. The word “mild” (which appears again later in the carol) speaks of something that is gentle; not easily provoked; not harsh. You’ll often hear people speak of “mild weather”, or of a person having a “mild manner”. Without the mercy of God, there would be no such thing as Christmas. The whole story is a story of mercy! Christmas is the point where we remember, in perhaps a more particular way, the moment in time when God moved in compassion, moved in mercy, and gave the world what it didn’t deserve – a Saviour.
But it’s not a harsh mercy, or a begrudging mercy, it’s a mild mercy. It’s a mercy that would cause the One who was, and is, the “Prince of Peace”, Jesus Christ, to come into a world of abject hostility, even from the point of His birth. It’s a mercy that would cause the One who is truly God to take the place of a servant and, ultimately, be led to the cross of Calvary. Why? Because of these next words: God and sinners reconciled!
These lyrics encapsulate the purpose of Christ coming into the world: that men and women, boys and girls, would, through belief in His death and resurrection, be reconciled to God! The angel Gabriel, when appearing to Joseph in a dream, said:
“She [Mary] will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21 ESV).
Later in the New Testament we read these words:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).
Typically, when we think about the word “reconciliation”, we think of two former friends who have turned against each other. However, after apologies have been accepted, they come together again; all disagreements are put aside, and there is peace. The image changes when we consider the two parties of God and man. God hasn’t done anything wrong to us; we have sinned against Him (Psalm 51:4)! We are the only guilty party; we alone have committed the offence!
And yet, Wesley reminds us of One who came to reconcile sinners to God – the Lord Jesus Christ. So, if you hear this carol being sung at various services, or maybe you even sing it yourself, think for a moment: am I reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20)? Do I have peace with God? If the answer to those questions is “no”, you need to repent of your sin and turn, in faith, to Christ. In doing so, peace will be yours, not only for Christmas, but for eternity.
