Be Still And Know

Luke 2:13-14 The shepherds received the news of Jesus’ birth from a single angel who was then joined by a vast crowd of angels to sing an amazing chorus of praise. The language used recalls Job 38:7, which states when God created the world “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy”. With the coming of Jesus into the world there is a new creation and so the whole population of heaven needed to join together in bringing a triumphant act of worship. I am sure that artists through the centuries have been right to depict the whole sky being alight as the angels sang their praises to the surprised shepherds. The message of the angelic host is interesting and it begs the question: “Who are the people with whom God is pleased?” It’s not an expression that we often find in the New Testament, but it reminds us of the words from heaven that were spoken over Jesus at his baptism: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22, NIV). God’s peace is the experience of