There are many reasons Christians sing. Some of those reasons are intensely personal. Some of those reasons are shown to us by Christians who have gone before us and have sung praises to God in times of trial to show their faith and to share the gospel (Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9). Some of those reasons are rooted in God’s revealed will for us — e.g., we sing to express solidarity in a holy moment, to teach and encourage each other, to praise God from our heart, and to express our joy to God (Matthew 26:30; 1 Corinthians 14:15,26; Ephesians 5:19-20; Colossians 3:16; James 5:13). Sometimes Christians sing simply for the fun of it and for the fun of being with God’s people. Sometimes we sing without even thinking about singing, it is just the joy of the Lord that fills our heart and our singing furnishes the background music of our lives.

    Traditionally at this time of year, however, we are blessed to sing in ways that combine all the reasons above and one more — we get to share the songs of angels.

    Among all the other things that angels do in the Bible, one of the most powerful is their singing. We know angels are interested in worshipping God, because that is what we see them doing so often in the book of Revelation. Their worship, and especially their singing, is a powerful and exciting part of heaven’s glory (e.g. Revelation 5:9-14). In many ways, their worship of God in heaven helps us know how to better praise our LORD God, his Son and our Lamb of glory, and the perfect Spirit of God who fills and empowers us.

Not only do they show us how to worship, they long to share with us in worship of God!

    Not only do the angels show us how to praise God, they are also interested in our worship and join us when we worship our God together (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:10; Hebrews 12:22). They take our prayers and bring them before the throne of God in heaven (cf. Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4) as part of their service to us, the children of God (Hebrews 1:14). Not only do they show us how to worship, they long to share with us in worship of God!

    While we really don’t have a clue as to the exact date of Jesus’ birth, we do know that when he was born, angels sang in joyous praise. The long awaited salvation that God had promised to bring, that angels had “stood on tiptoe” anticipating (1 Peter 1:12), had suddenly dawned! So the heavens brought a glorious explosion of glory from the very presence of God as angels announced in glorious song the birth of Jesus. Their songs of praise, which even now fill the throne room of heaven, were shared with shepherds out in the fields watching their flocks. As we gather together and offer praise to our Almighty God for his grace given to us in Jesus, and as we praise the Son of glory who has brought life and immortality to life, we are joining the angels in praise and adoration. We get to share the songs of angels. We anticipate a greater day and a greater glory when we will be greater than the angels (Hebrews 2:6-7; cf. 1 Corinthians 6:3) and will get to lead the praise of heaven!

    So whether you are tone deaf or gifted musically, whether your life is tough and hard like the shepherds or your find yourself incredibly blessed materially, why not join the angels in song and praise God for his greatest gift of all!

    That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior — yes, the Messiah, the Lord — has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!”

Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others — the armies of heaven — praising God:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and peace on earth to all whom God favors.”

(Luke 2:8-14)