What Would a Heavenly Host of Angels Look Like?

As we celebrate the Christmas season, let’s pause a moment to remember how the birth of Jesus changed everything. And consider how the imagery and symbols of God’s Word is beautifully knitted together.

All of history rests on the birth of the Savior. At last, the moment in history arrived in God’s timetable. He chose Mary, a virgin girl, who would give birth to the son of God.

God had already sent one angel, Gabriel, to announce the birth of John. Then Gabriel came to Mary to announce that she had been the favored one to give birth to Jesus.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as it was prophesied. It was the hometown of King David. This Jesus was the descendant of David who would sit on the throne forever as promised in the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 17:16.

David was a shepherd who became a king.

Jesus was a king who became The Good Shepherd.

Both David and Jesus began their ministries in Bethlehem.

In the Old Testament, one of the names of God is The Lord of Hosts. The hosts, or multitude, are angels which were created by God. The angels are a countless army of messengers ready to follow the orders of the Lord God Almighty. In the Word, this army of angels are called the heavenly host.

The night Jesus was born the imagery of angels, shepherds and the Savior blended together in an amazing way.

While Mary was giving birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem, nearby shepherds were working as usual. Like King David had done hundreds of years before that night, they watched over their flocks. They made sure thieves or wild animals didn’t take any sheep. The sky was clear and countless stars shone in the black sky. The night was silent except for the gentle movements of the flock.

Without warning, one angel appeared to them. The indescribable heavenly light of God’s glory shone down on them and dispelled the darkness. Shafts of fear shot through the shepherds.

The angels said:

“Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David has been born for you a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds couldn’t move as they tried to comprehend what they were seeing and hearing. Before they could even form a thought, the first angel was joined by God’s army of angels-the heavenly host.

Together the multitude of angels praised God saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men which whom He is pleased.”

Then as suddenly as they appeared, the angel army returned to the throne of God in heaven. The shepherds stared into the starry sky. When they could speak, they left immediately for Bethlehem to see what the Lord of Hosts had revealed to them through His angels.

The shepherds ran to Bethlehem as fast as they could. They found Mary, Joseph and the baby just as the angels said. They looked down at the newborn baby and remembered what the angel said. This child was the fulfillment of every prophecy. This child was the Messiah they had been waiting for. This child was the Savior of the world.

God had announced the birth of Jesus to the lowly shepherds first. Not to King Herod, or to the high priests or to the Levites, or Pharisees, or the Sadducees. God told the shepherds first that the Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, had arrived. They knew better than anyone that perfect, spotless lambs were the ones sacrificed for the sins of the people.

Once they left the stable, the shepherds told everyone what they had heard and seen. Everyone who heard their account of the night marveled at their words.

Finally, the shepherds made their way back toward their flocks. They praised God and gave Him the glory for all that had been revealed to them. For thousands of nights after this holy night, shepherds looked into the starry sky and remembered.

This Christmas season, let us look into the night sky and remember.

Carla Killough McClafferty