GLORIA IN EXCELSIS
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise You,
we bless You,
we worship You,
we glorify You,
we give You thanks for Your great glory.
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy;
Who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer,
Who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy.
For You only are holy;
You only are the Lord;
You only, O Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
INTRODUCTION
One of the great joys of being the pastor of Mt. Calvary is singing with you. There are times when the harmonies, the unity, and the common confession of song give us a foretaste of heaven. I’ve heard it said that Psalms, hymns, and Spiritual songs have a way of lifting us up to heaven. I’d like you to consider that in singing Scripture’s truths, heaven also comes down to earth.
As we sing the “Gloria in Excelsis” (as seen on the front), we are proclaiming a truth we may not realize. We are declaring that as we sing, we are not alone. We are joined with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven with the very words they used and still use to sing. What joy! This hymn is sung every Sunday in the liturgy. It is left out during the seasons of Advent and Lent to emphasize the joy of it in Christmas and Easter.
At the root of this marvelous hymn are some of the most beautiful words spoken or sung by angels in all of Holy Scripture. The angel Gabriel’s proclamation that Jesus is with us (Luke 1:28), that He is “The Holy One – The Son of God” (Luke 1:35), that He is called “Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32), and finally He is a King, whose Kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:33). However, even more foundational to the Gloria is the angels’ song on the night of Jesus’ birth. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace…” (Luke 2:14). We praise God for His glory in sending His Son to be born for us. He is our Savior, Christ the Lord. That night, the shepherds could find Him wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger, and on Sundays while singing this hymn, we find Him wrapped in His Word and Sacrament, doing what He came to do – being our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Immediately before singing this in the liturgy, we have prayed for the Lord to have mercy upon us in the “Kyrie.” Sometimes, we do this by praying, “In peace, let us pray the Lord.” In the “Gloria,” we state Who this mercy and peace comes from. It began with Jesus’ birth that culminated in His death, resurrection, and ascension at the right hand of God, the Father, Almighty. In studying the “Kyrie” previously, we considered the similarities of people crying out to their King for mercy. In the “Gloria,” we confess the Lord, God is our heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
When we sing this, we sing with the angels. We sing truths God’s people have believed for millennia. We are taken back to the joy of Christmas Eve as the Christ who was born then to be our Savior is present now with His forgiveness, life, and salvation.
What harmony! What unity! What a foretaste of heaven, as heaven comes down to earth. We are not alone! God is there – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.
SINGING THE COMFORTS THE ANGELS ANNOUNCE
PART 1: LUKE 2 – THE ANGELS SING
Read Luke 2:1-21 and consider the following:
Luke 2:1-7 emphasizes the lineage of Joseph through King David.
Meditate on the truths of God as King that we sing in the Gloria.
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.…
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
For you only are holy…are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen
Consider that King David brought peace to God’s Kingdom of Israel through war and battle of their enemies. How does Christ bring peace on earth?
How does this reading compare and contrast Christ’s humble birth to His kingship?
Whose Son is Christ? Son of God? Son of King David? Son of Mary? Adopted son of Joseph? All of the above? Yes! He is Son of God, begotten of His Father from eternity, and Son of Mary/David/Joseph in the flesh.
Luke 2:8-14 – Considering the “Gloria” we sing to God, rejoice in the truth that His glory must first be revealed to us.
Would the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night have known anything unless God had made it known to them? How is the Good Shepherd keeping watch over His flock that night?
Contrast the “glory of the Lord shone around them,” with the humble birth of the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in the manger because there was no place for them in the inn.
The glory of heaven fills the shepherds with great fear. Only at the angel’s word, “Fear not,” do the shepherds begin to understand this as good news of great joy, salvation, and peace.
The angels were the messengers bringing good news of great joy. Up to this point in the service, we have been brought good news of great joy for all people from our Savior, who is Christ, the Lord. We have received the good news that we have His name to call upon in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks (Invocation). We have received the good news that God forgives our sin for Christ’s sake (Confession and Absolution). We have received the good news that God prepares our hearts and minds for worship through His very own Word, from the Psalms (Introit). Finally, we have received the good news that He is a merciful and strong Lord. He can help and He is willing to help (Kyrie).
Now, sing the “Gloria” and notice where our proper fear, love, and trust belong:
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise You,
we bless You,
we worship You,
we glorify You,
we give you thanks for your great glory.
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy;
Who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer,
Who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy.
For You only are holy;
You only are the Lord;
You only, O Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
- 12 – And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. The angels pointed the shepherds to the city of David, where they would find this sign – the babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. What signs (words and images) point us to the presence of God in the Divine Service?
- 13 – And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying… Read Genesis 28:10-17 and notice the location of the angels in this reading. Who has become the ladder to heaven in Luke 2? Who is now the gate to heaven?
The following two verses give us a fuller picture of what “a multitude of heavenly host” means:
Daniel 7: 10 A stream of fire issued
and came out from before him;
a thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him;
the court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
Revelation 5: 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
Vs. 14 – 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Read Exodus 32:16-17. Here and in other places in the Old Testament, “glory” is used to describe God’s visible presence among His people. Where is God’s visible presence for those shepherds? Why do we sing of God’s presence in the church service?
Especially consider this part of the “Gloria…”
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy;
Who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer,
Who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy.
Compare where peace is found in Luke 2:14 to where peace is found in Luke 19:38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” The following verse tells us what heavenly peace means for us:
Romans 5: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Luke 2:15-20 Consider how after having the glory of God revealed to us, we are brought to seek out more about Him and share with others about Him.
Vs. 15 – When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” Notice the angels announcement begins a mutual conversation of encouragement between the shepherds. “Let’s go see!” How does the singing of the “Gloria” put us in this mutual conversation and encouragement with each other? We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory.
- 16 – 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. As we sing the “Gloria,” we proclaim the sense of importance of where we are at, in the presence of God, surrounded by the angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven. The shepherds went with haste to the place where Jesus was. There, they found that the Son of God dwells with us and Mary, His mother, and Joseph, His adopted father. As we consider our sin and the troubles of this life, the Divine Service should be a place that we go with haste to – for there we find mercy and peace.
vs 17- 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. In vs. 15, the conversation was between each other. Christians encourage each other with this great joy. Here, we see the Word of God is not confined to conversation between Christians. The joy bubbles over to make the good news known to others that was made known to them. What truths of this story and what truths of the “Gloria” ought be made known to all people concerning this Child?
- 18 – 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. Faith was created in the shepherds by the Word of the angels’ proclamation. Faith is created in “all who heard” the word of the shepherds as seen in their “wondering.” The “we” of the “Gloria” is always growing.
- 19 – 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.What a night for Mary and Joseph! Luke carefully notes that Mary “treasured up all these things.” The beauty and comforts of this night will be enough to ponder in her heart for all her life – indeed for all of eternity.
Why can we sing the “Gloria,” nearly every time we gather as Christians to receive Christ’s Word and Sacrament? Should it ever get old? What benefit is it to the children and elderly, and to us all, to repeat, repeat, repeat?
- 20 – 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. What had begun for the shepherds when “an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear,” continued with the “multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace….,'” continues with the shepherds returning, “glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them,” and in Luke 2(29-32), will concluded when the 8 day old Jesus is presented in the temple and Simeon sings this song: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace,
according to your word;
for my eyes have seen your salvation
that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
There are four mentions of the glory or glorifying in Luke 2. How many times is it mentioned in the “Gloria”? Count below!
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise You,
we bless You,
we worship You,
we glorify You,
we give You thanks for Your great glory.
………………………………….
For You only are holy;
You only are the Lord;
You only, O Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
- 21 – And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. The name of the child has been revealed from heaven, by an angel. Joseph and Mary knew what to “call” Him. The “Gloria” helps us confess the names of God given us from heaven. Circle above the names God has given us so that we might call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise, give thanks, and glorify?
Finally, notice they only called Him Jesus after blood was shed in His circumcision. He has come to be our Savior. He is called Jesus for He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He saves by fulfilling the Law and then shedding His blood for us.
PART 2: LUKE 1 – THE ANGEL ANNOUNCES
Read Luke 1:26-38 and consider the following:
While the “Gloria” has its primary foundation in the angels song on Christmas morning, there are also beautiful comforts brought out in the angels visitation to Mary to announce that she will conceive in her womb and bear a son and shall call his name Jesus.
Luke 1:26-27 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.
Here, an angel who is outside of time and space, sent from heaven, meets Mary in time, space, and on earth, a very specific place on earth. The specificity of these verses are amazing. Angels are crazy awesome. There’s multitudes of them and we believe there are up to 7 different ranks of angels (Angels, Archangels, Powers, Dominions, etc.). Yet, a very specific angel, Gabriel, was sent with a very specific message to a very specific person.
Consider the many times we hear the words “you,” “I,” “we,” or “us” in the Divine Service, or specifically in the “Gloria.” Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and yet, you also hear from me, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, “I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Specifically you!
Singing glory to God has been done millions upon trillions upon infinite times by the angels and God’s people. And yet, when we sing it on Sunday, we, specifically we sing it. All because God’s Word was sent to us and is sent to us, with the very specific names we have, to the very specific address of 204 N Little Texas Road, Kannapolis.
As you sing the “Gloria” next time, close your eyes and picture your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are singing “we glorify You” with you. They have specific names, specific families, and specific needs that we have the gift of praying together for mercy upon us to Christ, who sits are the right hand of God the Father.
Luke 1:28-30 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Why is Mary troubled at Gabriel’s appearance and greeting? Why were the shepherds troubled at their angels’ appearance and greeting? Why should you be troubled in coming into the presence of God who is holy and just?
Fear in the presence of God is natural. Some try to cover this up and some might have hardened their conscience so much that they deceive themselves, but on the Day of Judgment, every knee will bow. The presence of the angels and of God bring an increased awareness of sin and the wrath we deserve.
What isn’t natural is this beautiful word, “Do not be afraid.” It’s found all the time on the lips of Jesus. Why should Mary not be afraid? Because she has found favor with God. Why should the shepherds not be afraid? Because the news the angels brought was news of salvation for sinners, not condemnation.
Considering these truths, what parts of the “Gloria,” and other parts of the Divine Service does God in essence say, “Do not fear. You have found favor with me through Christ, the Lord”?
Glory be to God on high, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise You,
we bless You,
we worship You,
we glorify You,
we give You thanks for Your great glory.
O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
Who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy;
Who takes away the sin of the world, receive our prayer,
Who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy.
For You only are holy;
You only are the Lord;
You only, O Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Luke 1:31-38 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
There are some very specific titles and names we sing in the “Gloria,” that is taken from this amazing revelation from the angel’s words to Mary. What are they? How do these titles help us glorify God? How do they bring us comfort?
Mary has two responses. The first is the question of “how?” The second is the response of complete faith and obedience. Mary has a different “how” than Zechariah did. Zechariah, when he was told that his very old and barren wife would conceive in her womb and bear a son and call his name John asked, “How shall I know this?” He knows it because God says so, but he doubted. We don’t normally get to know the hows of God’s promises. He doesn’t want us to know how all things will work out. Faith isn’t opposed to knowledge, but it’s certainly not the same thing.
Mary’s response of “how,” is a complete confusion about how God is going to use her, because she is yet a virgin. She does not doubt He will do it. And He will. Nothing is impossible with God.
Mary’s second response is one of the most beautiful and helpful responses for the Christian to speak again and again to their Lord. “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.” The Holy Spirit is working in at least two ways. The first is obvious – the Son of God is becoming incarnate in the virgin by the Holy Spirit. The second is less obvious, but also a miracle. He is working to create and strengthen faith in Mary. Only by the working of the Holy Spirit can Mary believe in her heart and confess with her mouth such words of faith, “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to Your word.” The Holy Spirit is working in your heart and with your mouth to say the same. How does singing the “Gloria” say the same thing as Mary’s beautiful and humble words?
PART 3: DIFFERENT WORDS OF PRAISING GOD
Sing the Gloria (YES, AGAIN!) and consider the following:
GLORY BE TO GOD
In Hebrew this word is related to the weightiness of a thing. The weightiness of a thing is connected to its worth. Five pounds of corn is worth more than two pounds of corn. The image of glory, or weightiness, recognizes God’s value and worth and the abundance of His worth and goodness to us and the angels.
In Greek, glory is connected with having a high opinion of a person or thing. This image recognizes the honor due God’s name and how highly we and the angels think of Him.
Psalm 29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Revelation 19:1-2:After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for his judgments are true and just;
for he has judged the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth with her immorality,
and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
WE PRAISE YOU
This word is the root of “Hallelujah” and “Alleluia!” “Hallelujah,” simply means praise the Lord. “Hallel” means “praise” and “jah” is short for one of God’s names in the Old Testament, “Yahweh.” Praise is describing the brightness belonging to our Lord. The light He is in Himself and light He gives to all creation. His very first words are, “Let there be light.” In the new heavens and new earth, there will be no need for a sun or moon, because God will be our light.
Psalm 148:1-2 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts!
WE BLESS YOU
This word is similar to the words above. It glorifies and praises God, but we can’t help but see that the Lord we bless also blesses us. The first use of this word in the Bible is when God blesses the animals and told them to be fruitful and multiply. Shortly after, God blesses Adam and Eve and told them to be fruitful and multiply. We bless (thank, praise, and glorify) the Lord who lavishes us with His blessings (gifts) in creating and redeeming us and our children (fruitful and multiply).
Psalm 103:20-22 20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
22 Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
Revelation 7:12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
WE WORSHIP YOU
This word literally means “to go the knee towards Him.” It is a recognition of our lowliness compared to His highness. We humble our ourselves and recognize to Him alone belong all strength and power and wisdom and might and goodness. We bow to Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind.
There’s another Hebrew word that is translated as “worship.” This word is connected with service and working. When we say, “we worship You,” we recognize, as Mary did, that we are God’s servants and are not servants of our sinful flesh, the world, or the devil.
Psalm 97:7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
who make their boast in worthless idols;
worship him, all you gods!
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God
WE GIVE YOU THANKS
This word in Hebrew is connected with confessing God. When we speak of the mighty works of God to all (ourselves, our neighbors, the angels, etc.), we are thanking God for His works. Expressing how wonderful someone is and the wonderful things they do is the best way to say, “thank you.” As we thank God, we speak back the words He first spoke to us about His mighty deeds of creation, redemption, and sanctification.
It’s also connected with the word “hand.” When we thank God, we recognize we have nothing to give to Him that He didn’t first give to us. We, in essence, have empty hands before Him. But He has filled our hands with good things.
In Greek, it’s also connected with one of the words for the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist. In this meal, the Lord Jesus Christ, on the night in which He was betrayed, took break and after giving thanks, began to fill our hands, bodies, and souls with His body and His blood for us for the forgiveness of sins.
Psalm 138 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
Revelation 4:9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 7:12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”