Luke 2:13-14 NIV
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
The shepherds hear from one angel about the Messiah being born. “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel.” How many angels makes up a host? I don’t know, but Daniel may give us a small clue.
In Daniel 7:10 Daniel sees “…Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.” Let’s do the math ten thousand times ten thousand is one hundred million angels.
Could that be what the shepherds saw? One hundred million angels singing praise to God. Imagine how the night sky lit up! Imagine what it sounded like!
A couple of years ago, Sara sang with a small choir at a school function. They sang “The Twelve Songs of Christmas.” It was beautiful. They ended with the “Halleluiah Chorus.” The entire audience stood to their feet and sang along. It gave me the chills. I closed my eyes and thought of the shepherds hearing one hundred million angels.
In Revelation 5:11 and 12 we get a glimpse at the throne of God, “Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'” Let’s skip to verse 14, “The four living creatures said, ‘Amen,’ and the elders fell down and worshiped.” They fell down and worshiped. When is the last time we fell down and worshiped the Lord, the Lamb of God, the King of Kings?
Imagine hearing one hundred million angels giving praise to God. It’s breathtaking. This Christmas let’s join the millions of angels and praise God. May we fall down before Him in holy reverence.
That was so beautiful! I was thinking about that night and the shepherds when we were singing as well.