Luke 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. But what did the heavenly choir mean? They could not mean that, at that moment, there was "Peace on the earth"? Was it a prayer? "May there be glory to God in the highest, and may there be peace on earth, and may there be goodwill toward men!" Or was it prophecy? Did they foresee that the time would come that this would be the blessed condition of our world? — a time not yet arrived. The angel who led the band, had spoken of joy, only joy, "great joy," prophetic joy, "which should be to all people," a joy prophetic still. But the rushing "multitude of the angel host" carried the note higher, and gave no limit of time; and they did not say joy, but peace — "Peace on earth." Is it that, even to an angel's mind, peace is above joy? Or, was it that they thought and knew that this was what our world most wanted? They had been accustomed to look upon the peace of heaven, where everything has found its resting-place, and everything is calm: where there is not a sound which is not like the flow of waters: where a discordant note is never heard: where all hearts are in one sweet concord: where all is dove-like gentleness! No wonder, then, that they drew their anthems from the scenes they lived in. We have to do now only with peace. And the stress lies in the words, "On earth." No marvel if there should be peace in heaven. No angel would care to proclaim a thing so certain. A "peace" that has sadly left us, since that day when sin came in! Observe the course of the facts of our world's history. Adam and Eve who, till that moment, were as one, now wrangled, which is the guiltiest? The first death upon this earth is fratricide; and the murdering brother, in his callous heart, cares nothing! The whole world is at enmity with God; and, save a few elect of every kind, every creature perishes in one vast engulphing flood! The earliest building upon record ends in a confusion, and is stamped a Babel! Even Abraham and Lot have to part; and Isaac quarrels with Ishmael; and Jacob with Esau; and Joseph has no peace with his brethren. "Peace on earth!" where is it? Where does she hide herself? Is she in the valleys? is she among the mountains? Is she in the high places of kings? Is she in the cottage? Is she in the Church? Is she, as she ought to be, in any one single man that walks this earth? But what is "peace"? The after creation — the rest of the soul — the concord of hearts — the reflection of heaven — the image of God. We must examine it more closely. It is human peace the angels sang: "Peace on earth." What is the peace of a man? First, there must be peace with God. God has said it universally, "There shall be no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." But peace makes peace. Peace with God in the soul, makes peace in the soul, and peace in the soul makes peace with the world. (J. Vaughan, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.WEB: "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men." |
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