Carol Contemplation: Angels, from the Realms of Glory

Angels From The Realm Of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory
Wing your flight over all the earth
Ye, who sang creations story
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Shepherds in the fields abiding
Watching over your flocks by night
God with man is now residing
Yonder shines the Infant light
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Sages leave your contemplations
Brighter visions beam afar
Seek the great Desire of nations
Ye have seen His natal star
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King
Saints before the alter bending
Watching long in hope and fear
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear
Come and worship, come and worship
Worship Christ the newborn King

This carol was written by James Montgomery, and the tune by Henry Smart, sometime in the 1800s. Each verse addresses a different group, commanding their attention and pointing them to worship Christ the newborn King. First the angels, who sang creation's story, (lovely line!) are told to proclaim the birth of the Messiah. The ubiquitous shepherds, who seem to feature in every carol, are watching over their flocks. "Hey guys!" the carol announces. "God with man is now residing!" Big news, that. Then my favorite line: "Sages, leave your contemplations," which I assume addresses the three wisemen, but I think it can apply to any thinker-type. Look for this instead, the carol urges: look for the great Desire of nations. Finally, it addresses the saints, Christians who are worshipping God and waiting for the return of Christ. I like the image of them bending before the altar, bowing their hearts before the Lord, "watching long in hope and fear." It feels like that much of the time. Hope and fear mingled, a watchfulness that has stretched into centuries, into millenia. He shall suddenly appear in his temple someday. But in the meantime, come and worship Christ the newborn king!

I won't mention (again) how lovely the alto line is in this carol, how much fun it is to sing. I don't have a favorite recorded version of this one, either. It's more of a carol we sing in church or while caroling, not one people record. That's ok. It's just as important to me.