Hark the Herald Angels Sing

"with angelic host proclaim “Christ is born in Bethlehem."

I'm intrigued by proclamations of the Angels throughout this song: naming Jesus as King, and pointing [the shepherds] to Bethlehem where Christ has just been born.

Bethlehem, in the eyes of the world at the time of Jesus’ birth, was no place for a king to be born, let alone the Christ. Yet here we are invited to proclaim, alongside an army of angels, that the savior the world has come to earth in a small shepherds town, a city of David, anointed by God to save his people.

“hark! the herald angels sing

"glory to the newborn king””

Heaven gathers an army of angels (a scene familiar in the history of the Bible (1Kings 22:19, 2Chr 18:17) to welcome the new king born to mankind. But, who is this king?

He definitely wasn't next in line by way of King Herod. In fact upon hearing news of his birth Herod launched an all out war against his life (trying to get the Magi to give up his location, and then killing all the firstborn sons). He wasn't the king the Jews anticipated would lead them valiantly into battle against their enemies. He was the king who left his throne in heaven. The king that took the form of mankind in order to pay the ultimate sacrifice for its freedom from sin. The king of ultimate humility and obedience. And the king of our hearts