Angels from the Realms of Glory
James Montgomery (1816)
Angels from the realms of glory,
wing your flight o'er all the earth;
once you sang creation's story,
now proclaim Messiah's birth:
Refrain:
Come and worship, come and worship,
worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
watching o'er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
yonder shines the infant light. [Refrain]
Sages, leave your contemplations,
brighter visions beam afar;
seek the great desire of nations,
you have seen the Savior's star. [Refrain]
This hymn focuses on each of the key players in the Christmas story, calling them from wherever they are to “Come and worship Christ, the newborn King.” The angels were called from all over the earth, and the wise men from afar, while the shepherds were almost next door. As the hymn is sung, think about where you are coming from as you come to worship.
James Montgomery wrote this text in 1816 and published it on Christmas Eve in the Sheffield Iris, a newspaper of which he was editor. He later published it in his hymn book The Christian Psalmist in 1825 under the title “Good tidings of great joy to all people.”
The hymn originally had five stanzas, but only the first four are usually sung today. Each of these stanzas calls on a part of creation to “come and worship.” The first three – angels, shepherds, and sages (wise men) – are key players in the Christmas narratives found in Luke 2 and Matthew 2. In the third stanza, there are two words which are somewhat out of date, and are occasionally edited: “Sages,” and “natal” . In the fourth stanza, “Saints” refers to Simeon and Anna, who had been “watching long in hope” for the Messiah to come. The fifth, which is usually omitted due to its gloomy beginning, is addressed to “Sinners, wrung with true repentance,” announcing that redemption has come.
Saints before the altar bending,
watching long in hope and fear,
suddenly the Lord, descending,
in his temple shall appear.
Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.
Two other stanzas are occasionally added. One is from another Montgomery hymn based on Philippians 2; it begins “Though an infant now we view Him.” The other is a doxological stanza from the Salisbury Hymn Book of 1857, which begins “All creation, join in praising.”
Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down.
All creation, join in praising
God the Father, Spirit, Son,
evermore your voices raising
to th'eternal Three in One.
Happy Advent,
Blessings,
Dorene
Source:
hymnary.org/text/angels_from_the_realms_of_glory
library.timelesstruths.org/music/Angels_from_the_Realms_of_Glory/