Not often thought of as Christmas carols are 5 songs from Scripture. Dr. John S. Barnett, http://www.dtbm.org/ in his excellent devotional on the Book of Revelation, entitled Living Hope for the End of Days, has this to say:
"Did you realize that at that first Christmas God introduced New Testament believers to the songs of heaven? Christ's birth was surrounded by the songs of the saints. Since Luke continued with the record of the early church in Acts, and Paul told us that Spirit-filled saints sing, we can be sure that the early church sang much and often.
Luke recorded a series of five Spirit-prompted songs:
1) Elizabeth broke into song at Mary's arrival. This was the first song of the New Testament, which is known from the first words of the Latin Vulgate as the 'Exclamavit'. (Lu. 1:42-45)
2) Mary followed with her marvelous 'Magnificat' (Lu. 1:46-55), in which she quotes over twenty different Scriptures!
3) Zacharias broke forth into his famous 'Benedictus' (Lu. 1:68-79) which means 'good saying'.
4) Angels broke into the night sky over the shepherds' fields of Bethlehem with 'Gloria' (Lu.2:14)
5) While holding the infant Jesus in his arms, Simeon lifted his eyes to God and sang his 'Nunc Dimittis' (Lu. 2:29-32).
And some day, when we at last enter into Christ's presence, Revelation says that we will be forever singing that He alone is worthy!"
(Living Hope, page 615)
As we move into the new year and have the opportunity to share the Gospel and join in Christian fellowship and study His Word, let's listen for the Spirit prompted songs in our own hearts. And let's learn to sing them. Begin singing the words of these 5 songs from Scripture during a personal worship time and begin preparations for the time when the redeemed will sing forever the glorious song that Jesus Christ alone is worthy!
May His grace, His peace and His joy be with you.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
O GO!
"You who bring good tidings to Zion, GO UP ON A HIGH MOUNTAIN. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, LIFT UP YOUR VOICE WITH A SHOUT, LIFT IT UP, DO NOT BE AFRAID; say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!' " (Isaiah 40:9)
"Men everywhere must hear these glad tidings if they are to benefit from them. With absolute clarity they must hear the message, "Here is your God!" ' (Kenneth W. Osbeck)
Get the picture? Got the message? Go! Go tell it on the mountain!!
Go! This word is obvious as to what to do and you can view it as a command from God, specifically to you.
Tell - Don't assume that people 'know' about Jesus. They don't and God tells you to tell them, and as recorded in Isaiah 'Shout'!
"It" is the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - such glorious news, the Gospel!
On the mountain - This is difficult for people who live only 5 feet about sea level, but where ever your mountain is, use it as your pulpit, your speaking platform, your soapbox and let the world know your Savior. I'm glad the refrain includes "over the hills and everywhere".
I'm also glad that Isaiah told us "do not be afraid" because sometimes, when the emotion of the season fades, I am reluctant to boldly share or even share at all the good news of the Christmas message. Interesting that before the Christ was even born, we were afraid to share the good news that God was giving to us, that He is God, through His prophets. And how thankful we should be that His words were recorded for us. And that our Christmas message in carol/song form was recorded for us through the work of so many poets, pastors, composers, Sunday school teachers and those we label "traditional". Such is the case of our carol today.
John W. Work (1871-1925) who, with his brother Frederick, was instrumental in writing down and publishing Negro spirituals, published Folk Songs of the American Negro in 1907 and included this spiritual. The refrain was a traditional spiritual and John wrote the 3 stanzas that tell of the shepherds and the manger. Ending the 3rd stanza with these words: "God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn," we can't help but sing out on the rhythmic and compelling traditional refrain:
"Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere -- go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!"
Join with those shepherds, and the angels and at least 3 magi, and Christians everywhere, clap your hands, and shout out along with the music: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/gotitotm.htm
The wonderful message of Christmas is that Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, Emmanuel is here!!!!!!!!!!!
"Men everywhere must hear these glad tidings if they are to benefit from them. With absolute clarity they must hear the message, "Here is your God!" ' (Kenneth W. Osbeck)
Get the picture? Got the message? Go! Go tell it on the mountain!!
Go! This word is obvious as to what to do and you can view it as a command from God, specifically to you.
Tell - Don't assume that people 'know' about Jesus. They don't and God tells you to tell them, and as recorded in Isaiah 'Shout'!
"It" is the good news of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior - such glorious news, the Gospel!
On the mountain - This is difficult for people who live only 5 feet about sea level, but where ever your mountain is, use it as your pulpit, your speaking platform, your soapbox and let the world know your Savior. I'm glad the refrain includes "over the hills and everywhere".
I'm also glad that Isaiah told us "do not be afraid" because sometimes, when the emotion of the season fades, I am reluctant to boldly share or even share at all the good news of the Christmas message. Interesting that before the Christ was even born, we were afraid to share the good news that God was giving to us, that He is God, through His prophets. And how thankful we should be that His words were recorded for us. And that our Christmas message in carol/song form was recorded for us through the work of so many poets, pastors, composers, Sunday school teachers and those we label "traditional". Such is the case of our carol today.
John W. Work (1871-1925) who, with his brother Frederick, was instrumental in writing down and publishing Negro spirituals, published Folk Songs of the American Negro in 1907 and included this spiritual. The refrain was a traditional spiritual and John wrote the 3 stanzas that tell of the shepherds and the manger. Ending the 3rd stanza with these words: "God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn," we can't help but sing out on the rhythmic and compelling traditional refrain:
"Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere -- go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!"
Join with those shepherds, and the angels and at least 3 magi, and Christians everywhere, clap your hands, and shout out along with the music: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/o/gotitotm.htm
The wonderful message of Christmas is that Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ the Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, Emmanuel is here!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
O Come!!
Hey!! don't stop with the manger, or the star or even those lowly shepherds or high-born Magi. O COME!! all ye faithful and let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord!!
When the packages are all opened and we have leftovers in the 'frig, the family and friends have gone on their way and we are faced with preparing for another turn of the calendar year, it is easy to have a let-down in emotions and enthusiasm. But, this is just the time to Come and Adore Him. All the bustle is over and you can really concentrate on the wondrous gift that was given to all mankind and that includes you. Take some extra hours and learn of the Word of the Father and read that Word for youself. Don't let this gift be the only one not opened or appreciated or not used!
O Come, All Ye Faithful is a beautiful Christmas carol and I think is best sung today, as the final verse says: "Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning." There has been some questioning of the author and when written and a possible circuitous route started by John Wade, a Roman Catholic, who may have written the words and slipped them in a manuscript he was writing while in Lisbon, Portugal in 1750. It was published in Wade's Cantus Diversi, 1751. The story goes on that 30 years later it turned up in the Portuguese chapel in London, the Duke of Leeds heard it sung and included it in repretoire of his singing group, using it yearly thereafter. We do know that it was originally in Latin and you can often hear, at least the first verse, sung "Adeste Fideles". We thank Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880) for translating it into English for his congregation and for us to sing.
We generally sing only 3 verses, although some versions contain 7. The 3 that we sing are beautiful and full of the imagery that fills so many of the carols. It has one of the most familiar refrains ever penned: "O Come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord". I just know you are singing along with those words. If you want some music, click here:http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomeayf.htm
An interesting title is given to our Lord in the first verse -- born the King of angels. And the last verse has another very interesting title - Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Those are good reasons for us to Come and Adore Him.
We're not quite finished with our Christmas carol overview. There are some energetic, more recent additions to the carols that remind us that once we have Come, it is time to Go.
When the packages are all opened and we have leftovers in the 'frig, the family and friends have gone on their way and we are faced with preparing for another turn of the calendar year, it is easy to have a let-down in emotions and enthusiasm. But, this is just the time to Come and Adore Him. All the bustle is over and you can really concentrate on the wondrous gift that was given to all mankind and that includes you. Take some extra hours and learn of the Word of the Father and read that Word for youself. Don't let this gift be the only one not opened or appreciated or not used!
O Come, All Ye Faithful is a beautiful Christmas carol and I think is best sung today, as the final verse says: "Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning." There has been some questioning of the author and when written and a possible circuitous route started by John Wade, a Roman Catholic, who may have written the words and slipped them in a manuscript he was writing while in Lisbon, Portugal in 1750. It was published in Wade's Cantus Diversi, 1751. The story goes on that 30 years later it turned up in the Portuguese chapel in London, the Duke of Leeds heard it sung and included it in repretoire of his singing group, using it yearly thereafter. We do know that it was originally in Latin and you can often hear, at least the first verse, sung "Adeste Fideles". We thank Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880) for translating it into English for his congregation and for us to sing.
We generally sing only 3 verses, although some versions contain 7. The 3 that we sing are beautiful and full of the imagery that fills so many of the carols. It has one of the most familiar refrains ever penned: "O Come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord". I just know you are singing along with those words. If you want some music, click here:http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomeayf.htm
An interesting title is given to our Lord in the first verse -- born the King of angels. And the last verse has another very interesting title - Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. Those are good reasons for us to Come and Adore Him.
We're not quite finished with our Christmas carol overview. There are some energetic, more recent additions to the carols that remind us that once we have Come, it is time to Go.
Friday, December 25, 2009
There's a Song in the Air! There's a Song in my Heart!
For all of us, Christmas morning brings memories and one of my favorites is my Mother singing the Christmas carol "There's a Song in the Air!" She would have me play the carol, sing all the verses and then she would dance her funny little waltz to the rhythm of the 3/4 time of the music, all the while checking on the Rome beauty apples baking, watching for my grandparents to arrive, having my sister help her in setting her beautiful holiday table and helping Dad get a fire going in the fireplace. Whew - alot to do. But with all that activity she would stop at the end of each verse to make sure she didn't miss singing about the King that was born to all mankind. She truly knew the truth of this carol in her heart and would sing it often during the year, long past Christmas morning...or maybe getting ready for the next year!
This beautiful carol was written byJosiah Gilbert Holland who was a medical doctor and also helped originate Scribner's Magazine. The words for the song were included in a Sunday school hymnal in 1874 and it wasn't until about 25 later that Karl Harrington, a well known church musician in the Methodist church and one of the editors of the 1905 Methodist Hymnal, set the verses to the tune that we use today. And it is a lovely, lilting melody that just fits the words perfectly. Listen now: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/s/tsongair.htm
So often we hear this song sung quietly or with a kind of hushed reverence but I think Mom sang it best and as the angels sang it on Christmas morning - with exuberance, with gusto, with animation and definitely with Great Joy. And probably with dancing!
I mentioned that each verse ends with acknowledgement of the birth of The King -
vs.1 and vs2 are alike: "the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King".
The last 2 lines of vs. 3: "Every hearth is aflame -- and the beautiful sing in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!"
And all of verse 4:
"We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song that comes down thru the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, and we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!"
After many years, when her dance was much slower, my mother's voice was still strong as she sang "There's a Song in the Air!" because she knew her Savior and King and she had the Song in her Heart. That is the greatest gift any parent can impart to a child, that knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and King, because that is the greatest gift ever given -- from our Heavenly Father to His children.
Rejoice! Sing with Joy! Celebrate the birth of our Savior and King! and go on, do a little dance!
This beautiful carol was written byJosiah Gilbert Holland who was a medical doctor and also helped originate Scribner's Magazine. The words for the song were included in a Sunday school hymnal in 1874 and it wasn't until about 25 later that Karl Harrington, a well known church musician in the Methodist church and one of the editors of the 1905 Methodist Hymnal, set the verses to the tune that we use today. And it is a lovely, lilting melody that just fits the words perfectly. Listen now: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/s/tsongair.htm
So often we hear this song sung quietly or with a kind of hushed reverence but I think Mom sang it best and as the angels sang it on Christmas morning - with exuberance, with gusto, with animation and definitely with Great Joy. And probably with dancing!
I mentioned that each verse ends with acknowledgement of the birth of The King -
vs.1 and vs2 are alike: "the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King".
The last 2 lines of vs. 3: "Every hearth is aflame -- and the beautiful sing in the homes of the nations that Jesus is King!"
And all of verse 4:
"We rejoice in the light, and we echo the song that comes down thru the night from the heavenly throng.
Ay! we shout to the lovely evangel they bring, and we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!"
After many years, when her dance was much slower, my mother's voice was still strong as she sang "There's a Song in the Air!" because she knew her Savior and King and she had the Song in her Heart. That is the greatest gift any parent can impart to a child, that knowledge of Jesus Christ as Savior and King, because that is the greatest gift ever given -- from our Heavenly Father to His children.
Rejoice! Sing with Joy! Celebrate the birth of our Savior and King! and go on, do a little dance!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Never Late and Always Right
Ever have one of those days when you are sure that what is happening is not right and nothing is on schedule?? I've often wondered about young Mary, heavy with child, depending on Joseph to care for her in this strange town of Bethlehem. Questions? I'll bet she had questions. Worries? Can't imagine a no-worry evening. Is this right? Why now??
When we trust our lives to and in Him, as Mary did, and when we act in faith, as did Joseph, we can know that God is never late and always right.
This morning in Our Daily Bread, a publication of Radio Bible Class, http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml we had our eyes opened and our hearts assured that God is never late and always right. What an interesting insight is given to us in this meditation:
"As a young girl in the late 1920s, Grace Ditmanson Adams often traveled with her missionary parents through inland China. Later, she wrote about those trips and the crowded places where they stayed overnight—village inns full of people coughing, sneezing, and smoking, while babies cried and children complained. Her family put their bedrolls on board-covered trestles in a large room with everyone else.
One snowy night, they arrived at an inn to find it packed full. The innkeeper expressed his regret, then paused and said, “Follow me.” He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment. There they slept in a quiet place of their own.
After that, whenever Grace read that Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), she saw the event differently. While some described the innkeeper as an example of uncaring, sinful mankind who rejected the Savior, Grace said, “I truly believe that Almighty God used the innkeeper as the arranger for a healthier place than the crowded inn—a place of privacy.”
Through eyes of faith, we see God’s provision for Mary. Look for the ways He provides for you. — David C. McCasland
Wait on the Lord from day to day,Strength He provides in His own way;There’s no need for worry, no need to fear,He is our God who is always near. —Fortna
Those who let God provide will be satisfied."
On this Silent Night, Holy Night, as we hum Away in a Manger and our hearts recall the beautiful First Noel, let us also remember that God is Never Late and He is Always Right.
Never. Always.
May God bless your heart this moment...and get ready to Sing His Praises. It's almost Christmas DAY!!!!
If needed, here is the link for words and music:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/silntnit.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/w/awaymang.htm (scroll down for a beautiful picture)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/r/frstnoel.htm (again, lovely artwork)
When we trust our lives to and in Him, as Mary did, and when we act in faith, as did Joseph, we can know that God is never late and always right.
This morning in Our Daily Bread, a publication of Radio Bible Class, http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb.shtml we had our eyes opened and our hearts assured that God is never late and always right. What an interesting insight is given to us in this meditation:
"As a young girl in the late 1920s, Grace Ditmanson Adams often traveled with her missionary parents through inland China. Later, she wrote about those trips and the crowded places where they stayed overnight—village inns full of people coughing, sneezing, and smoking, while babies cried and children complained. Her family put their bedrolls on board-covered trestles in a large room with everyone else.
One snowy night, they arrived at an inn to find it packed full. The innkeeper expressed his regret, then paused and said, “Follow me.” He led them to a side room used to store straw and farm equipment. There they slept in a quiet place of their own.
After that, whenever Grace read that Mary “brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn” (Luke 2:7), she saw the event differently. While some described the innkeeper as an example of uncaring, sinful mankind who rejected the Savior, Grace said, “I truly believe that Almighty God used the innkeeper as the arranger for a healthier place than the crowded inn—a place of privacy.”
Through eyes of faith, we see God’s provision for Mary. Look for the ways He provides for you. — David C. McCasland
Wait on the Lord from day to day,Strength He provides in His own way;There’s no need for worry, no need to fear,He is our God who is always near. —Fortna
Those who let God provide will be satisfied."
On this Silent Night, Holy Night, as we hum Away in a Manger and our hearts recall the beautiful First Noel, let us also remember that God is Never Late and He is Always Right.
Never. Always.
May God bless your heart this moment...and get ready to Sing His Praises. It's almost Christmas DAY!!!!
If needed, here is the link for words and music:
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/i/silntnit.htm
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/w/awaymang.htm (scroll down for a beautiful picture)
http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/r/frstnoel.htm (again, lovely artwork)
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
Luke 2:4 "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the Town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."
This Christmas carol is one of my very favorites. The words are well chosen, well placed and tell the facts of the occasion beautifully. The tune is so simple with emphasis where needed and good for children's voices. The story behind the hymn is humble and uplifting. And the imagery is, well, perfect in creating the scene in the mind's eye.
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was, like others we have noted, Harvard educated and spent the large part of his pastorate in the Episcopal Trinity Church of Boston where he was a giant of the faith - well known for his sermons, writings and his ability to relate to his parish. In 1865 Brooks took a trip to the Holy Land and spent Christmas eve at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, and the evening made quite an impression upon him. Three years later when he was pastoring a church in Philadelphia he wanted a special song for the children to sing in their Christmas Sunday school pageant and remembering his special Christmas evening in Bethlehem wrote the words in just one sitting. His organist, Lewis Redner, was asked to put the words to music and after hearing the tune in a dream, quickly wrote it out. And the rest is history, as the carol has become a favorite with children and adults all over the world.
There are 5 verses, although only 4 are usually sung. And the theology is stunning in every verse. One of the most memorable phrases in the 1st verse is the last line: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." - the hope of eternal life with Christ and the fear of eternal judgement without Him became manifest at that moment of birth.
Verse 2 has the familiar hope again for peace to men on earth following acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as God the King.
Verse 3 has to be given in total:
"How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n. No ear may hear His coming, but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in."
The 4th verse is really a prayer and can be used as a Christmas devotional prayer. This would be an excellent word tool to help little ones learning how to pray and asking Jesus into their hearts. Again, the whole verse is:
"O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in -- be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!"
Brooks kept the focus of the hymn on Christ as the Savior, still telling the lovely story of the birth yet with the definite emphasis on Savior - the hopes, peace, impart to human hearts, meek souls receiving and be born in us today.
In all our hurrying and scurrying about this week, my prayer is that you will quiet yourself and become aware of silent stars passing by, dark streets where the everlasting LIGHT is aglow, and enjoy the pure joy of experiencing, either for the first time or again, the wondrous gift that is given - our Lord Emmanuel.
If you need the words or tune - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm
Luke 2:4 "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the Town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David."
This Christmas carol is one of my very favorites. The words are well chosen, well placed and tell the facts of the occasion beautifully. The tune is so simple with emphasis where needed and good for children's voices. The story behind the hymn is humble and uplifting. And the imagery is, well, perfect in creating the scene in the mind's eye.
Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) was, like others we have noted, Harvard educated and spent the large part of his pastorate in the Episcopal Trinity Church of Boston where he was a giant of the faith - well known for his sermons, writings and his ability to relate to his parish. In 1865 Brooks took a trip to the Holy Land and spent Christmas eve at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, and the evening made quite an impression upon him. Three years later when he was pastoring a church in Philadelphia he wanted a special song for the children to sing in their Christmas Sunday school pageant and remembering his special Christmas evening in Bethlehem wrote the words in just one sitting. His organist, Lewis Redner, was asked to put the words to music and after hearing the tune in a dream, quickly wrote it out. And the rest is history, as the carol has become a favorite with children and adults all over the world.
There are 5 verses, although only 4 are usually sung. And the theology is stunning in every verse. One of the most memorable phrases in the 1st verse is the last line: "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." - the hope of eternal life with Christ and the fear of eternal judgement without Him became manifest at that moment of birth.
Verse 2 has the familiar hope again for peace to men on earth following acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as God the King.
Verse 3 has to be given in total:
"How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv'n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n. No ear may hear His coming, but, in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still the dear Christ enters in."
The 4th verse is really a prayer and can be used as a Christmas devotional prayer. This would be an excellent word tool to help little ones learning how to pray and asking Jesus into their hearts. Again, the whole verse is:
"O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in -- be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!"
Brooks kept the focus of the hymn on Christ as the Savior, still telling the lovely story of the birth yet with the definite emphasis on Savior - the hopes, peace, impart to human hearts, meek souls receiving and be born in us today.
In all our hurrying and scurrying about this week, my prayer is that you will quiet yourself and become aware of silent stars passing by, dark streets where the everlasting LIGHT is aglow, and enjoy the pure joy of experiencing, either for the first time or again, the wondrous gift that is given - our Lord Emmanuel.
If you need the words or tune - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/olittle.htm
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.' " (Luke 2:13)
The lovely Christmas carol is a fairly recent addition to the carol collection having been written by an American, Edmund Sears in 1849, just about the same time frame as our Longfellow carol. The tensions and uncertain political times of those years before our Civil War are reflected in the words of both songs.
Sears, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School and served in small pastorates in the East part of our country, based his words on the Scripture from Luke quoted above and from Isaiah 9:6 "And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." An interesting point is that in many of the Christmas carols, including this one, the angels are portrayed as singing but the Scripture tells us that one angel announced the Good News to the shepherds and then the "great company of heavenly host" joined the angel saying "Glory to God".
The first of the 5 verses is by far the most familiar and when sung in a program, the middle verses are often omitted. Yet, they contain the condition of man who needs peace. We read in vs. 1 that the "angels are bending near the earth" and then vs.4. records that "ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow.." Quite a contrast of bending. The last line of vs.4 is wonderful for us today - "O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing."
The last verse is based in prophcey (as prophet bards foretold) and we sing of the age of gold that is coming when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling and "the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing."
Did you notice that each verse ends with "the angels sing? And in 3 of the verses the word gold is used to remind us of "heav'n's all gracious King!"
Sing with the angels here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itcameup.htm
A note about the words and music -- this carol, with no refrain, has a phrase which is introduced by 2 notes sung followed by 2 more notes an octave lower which creates a change in mood. The words in the first verse to emphasize this mood change are"Peace on (2 high notes) the earth (an octave lower)"; verse 4 "Look now! (high) for glad (low) " and then in verse 5 "When peace (up) shall over (down)". As you listen to this great carol you will hear the emphasis and appreciate what the author was wanting us to know - Jesus Christ is our peace!! And He gives us peace in our tense and unsettled times, just as the angels gave their heavenly pronouncement of peace at the time of the Roman rule. As we read in an earlier post, life is uncertain; Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever - Our Peace.
The lovely Christmas carol is a fairly recent addition to the carol collection having been written by an American, Edmund Sears in 1849, just about the same time frame as our Longfellow carol. The tensions and uncertain political times of those years before our Civil War are reflected in the words of both songs.
Sears, who graduated from Harvard Divinity School and served in small pastorates in the East part of our country, based his words on the Scripture from Luke quoted above and from Isaiah 9:6 "And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." An interesting point is that in many of the Christmas carols, including this one, the angels are portrayed as singing but the Scripture tells us that one angel announced the Good News to the shepherds and then the "great company of heavenly host" joined the angel saying "Glory to God".
The first of the 5 verses is by far the most familiar and when sung in a program, the middle verses are often omitted. Yet, they contain the condition of man who needs peace. We read in vs. 1 that the "angels are bending near the earth" and then vs.4. records that "ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow.." Quite a contrast of bending. The last line of vs.4 is wonderful for us today - "O rest beside the weary road and hear the angels sing."
The last verse is based in prophcey (as prophet bards foretold) and we sing of the age of gold that is coming when peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling and "the whole world give back the song which now the angels sing."
Did you notice that each verse ends with "the angels sing? And in 3 of the verses the word gold is used to remind us of "heav'n's all gracious King!"
Sing with the angels here: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itcameup.htm
A note about the words and music -- this carol, with no refrain, has a phrase which is introduced by 2 notes sung followed by 2 more notes an octave lower which creates a change in mood. The words in the first verse to emphasize this mood change are"Peace on (2 high notes) the earth (an octave lower)"; verse 4 "Look now! (high) for glad (low) " and then in verse 5 "When peace (up) shall over (down)". As you listen to this great carol you will hear the emphasis and appreciate what the author was wanting us to know - Jesus Christ is our peace!! And He gives us peace in our tense and unsettled times, just as the angels gave their heavenly pronouncement of peace at the time of the Roman rule. As we read in an earlier post, life is uncertain; Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever - Our Peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
