Isn’t it interesting that many of our Christmas carols have something to say about angels? We sing of them directly in “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, “Angels from the Realms of Glory,” and also in “Angels We Have Heard on High,” as well as in many others which reference the angels in one or more of the stanzas. And that last one is the focus of this study, a joyful carol with origins in France before being translated into English, “Angels We Have Heard on High.”
But this angelic dimension shouldn’t surprise us, since these glorious created beings are constantly worshiping before the Lord of glory, watching His plan of redemption worked out through the centuries. We read of their continuing interest in this divine work of redemption in 1 Peter 1:12. “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” What an intriguing idea, that angels long to look into these things!