SUBJ:  The glory of God manifested to His people in the incarnation of Christ Jesus our Lord and that it is the song of the angels and is become the New Song of redemption.

AIM: That we might be the more given to reflection and meditation on the Glory of God and that especially in beholding the Lamb of God and rejoicing in His life from the manger to the Throne.

INTR: It is my desire that the blessing of the Lord would be known to you all through the realization that the birth of Jesus was to the glory of God in that He came into this world to do the will of the Father which we could not and would not do.
1. He was named Jesus by the Angel with the message that He would save His people from their sins and so the Gospel aim is declared from the beginning.
2. Fallen man cannot relinquish his claim to pride and so finds it difficult that all glory is to God and it is the glory of men when they find their joy in knowing God in the way of redemption.
3. It is to us to look beyond all the trappings of the season, which are vain attempts to obscure the glory of God in the salvation of His people which began to be manifested in the birth of Jesus.

THESIS: The glory of God is the theme of the heavenly song and seeing Jesus provokes us embrace it as our own New Song of redemption and so become partakers of His nature and partakers of His glory. Spurgeon saw this verse as three stanzas to the declaration.

I. Glory to God in the Highest
1. In that the shepherds were mere men as are we, we do well to think upon what it might have been like to have received such a message:
1) There was no question as to its heavenly origin
2) They were fully arrested but assured
3) They were moved to act.
2. They heard a declaration and were to understand in simple terms the essence of what was occurring.
3. The glory of God is everywhere manifested in creation and rejected by men:
1) The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalms 19:1.
2) The voice of the Lord elicits a response from all but rebellious man: The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. Psalms 29:9.
4. If we would indeed look to His glory then we would hear the Word of the Lord and the song of the angels: And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Isaiah 6:3.
5. Imperfect and fallen men cannot understand that God in all His perfections and beauty is to receive no less than the acknowledgment of His glory from men.

II. On Earth Peace
1. Or we might read it that peace was on the earth in that Jesus Christ is peace personified.
1) See And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. Micah 5:5
2) AND For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Ephesians 2:14
2. I have read that there were no wars during the sojourn of Christ on earth. Such would be fitting just like the fact that there is not record that any ever died in His presence.
3. After all He is the Prince of Peace: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.
4. The peace of God rules in hearts and becomes the order of the day for us who know Him.
1) They enjoy Peace with God because that God was in Christ reconciling and
2) We have the peace of God that enforces a calmness of soul as resting in the presence of He who reigns with peace toward His own.
3) He who has come is the source of it all: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7.

III. Good will toward men
1. There is a debate among commentators as to whether the words are as written or should read “toward men of good will.”
2. It is certain that those who have been visited by the grace of God according to His will and purpose are disposed to delight therein. The idea that the Gospel message might in any way be left to the good will of men runs contrary to what had just been said: “Glory to God in the Highest.”
3. And so we recognize that the determination of God to save and that He gave His only begotten Son to do so is the most wonderful gesture of Good will ever and so it will be that those receiving it as such will be engaged in delightfully glorifying God forever.