新心音乐 · Album: 圣诞新心. Explore “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”: song information and official sources.
Redeeming grace · The incarnation
The opening line sung today was not Wesley's original. In 1739 he began with “Hark how all the welkin rings” (listen, the whole sky rings out); Whitefield changed it to the familiar opening in 1753. Wesley would not let a Christmas hymn remain merely warm and pleasant. The third stanza describes the Lord willingly veiling the display of his glory, being born to free people from death and raise those formed from dust. It also applies Malachi 4:2’s final vision to Christ: “But to you who fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings.” Wesley links the Old Testament's final book to that night in Bethlehem, joining Christmas to redemption's fulfilment. Its grand melody suits congregational Christmas Sunday worship. When teaching children, explain the third stanza rather than singing only the celebration of the first two.
Christmas Sunday and Christmas worship; teaching on Malachi 4 or promises connecting the two Testaments.