My favorite Christmas hymn is “Angels From the Realms of Glory.” I love the tune; I love the words. Each stanza progressively tells the story of redemption. It is rich in biblical allusions, from creation to the birth of Christ to the return of Christ.

On December 24, 1816, James Montgomery was reading Luke chapter 2. When he read verses 13-14—“And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’”—he quickly penned a poem which he titled, “Good Tidings of Great Joy to All People.” That night it was published in the weekly Sheffield Register in London, of which he was the editor. He would go on to write around 400 hymns in total.

The tune to which we sing it is known as “Regent Square,” which refers to Regent Square Presbyterian Church in London. The composer was Henry Smart. He was known as one of the best, brightest organists and composers of church music of his day. However, he was blind for the last fifteen years of his life. Remarkably, it was during his time of blindness that he composed the tune “Regent Square” to which we sing “Angels from the Realms of Glory.”

Here are the stanzas to this beautiful Advent Hymn, and note well the biblical allusions to Job 38:7; Luke 2:1-20; Haggai 2:6-7; Matthew 2:1-2; Numbers 24:17; Philippians 2; 1 Corinthians 15:51-51; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, et.al.

Angels from the realms of glory,

Wing your flight o’er all the earth; 

Ye who sang creation’s story

Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain:

  Come and worship, come and worship,

  Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,

Watching o’er your flocks by night,

God with us is now residing;

Yonder shines the infant light:

Sages, leave your contemplations,

Brighter visions beam afar;

Seek the great Desire of nations;

Ye have seen His natal star.

Saints, before the altar bending,

Watching long in hope and fear;

Suddenly the Lord, descending,

In His temple shall appear.

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:

And here is the final stanza which is usually omitted from modern hymnals. You’ll notice that we don’t usually sing all these stanzas. Why, I do not know, for it gives us the fulfillment of Advent, of Christmas, of the message to the Shepherds—to all who believe. Some may think these words harsh, but they are not. This is the message of the angel, “Good news of great joy”:

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,

Doomed for guilt to endless pains,

Justice now revokes the sentence,

Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Come and worship, come and worship,

Worship Christ, the newborn King!