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天使在夜间向伯利恒旷野里的牧羊人传报佳音之后，“忽然有一大队天兵，同那天使赞美神说：‘在至高之处荣耀归与神，在地上平安……’”（路 2:13-14）

歌曲“荣耀归神”唱出了这一惊人的宣告。对于许多具有荷兰传统信仰背景的教会来说，这首赞美诗已经成为圣诞节期间的最爱。

天使情不自禁地发出赞美，将“荣耀归与神”，并宣告地上的平安。耶稣出生的时候，罗马帝国提供了罗马式和平（pax Romana）——他们向其疆域内的所有公民提供和平的环境。但这并不是天使在那个辉煌的夜晚所唱的和平。他们唱的是因救主耶稣的降生而带来的真正的、持久的平安。这个婴孩带来的平安并不依赖于任何政府，而是神为所有相信祂的人赐下的真平安。

在耶稣生命的尾声，当祂预备好为我们所有人舍弃生命时，祂对自己的追随者说：“我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。”（参约 14:27）有了神的平安在我们心中，我们便知道耶稣修复了我们与天父的关系。

Just after the angel’s birth announcement to shepherds in a Bethlehem field at night, "suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace…’"（Luke 2:13-14）

The song "Ere Zij God/Glory to God" celebrates this stunning announcement. For many churches with a Dutch-heritage background, this hymn has become a favorite to sing on Christmas Day.

The angels of heaven burst into spontaneous praise, giving "glory to God" and announcing peace on earth. During the time of Jesus’ birth, the Roman Empire offered the pax Romana ("Peace of Rome"). They offered peace to all the citizens within its borders. But that was not the kind of peace the angels sang about on that glorious night. They were singing of the true and lasting peace that comes because of the birth of Jesus, the Savior. The peace that this baby came to offer was not dependent on any government but is the true peace of God for all who come to believe in him.

Later in Jesus’ life, as he prepared to lay down his life for us all, he said to his followers, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you" (John 14:27). With the peace of God in our minds and hearts, we know that Jesus restores our relationship with the Father.