I love Christmas. The lights, the merriment, the events, the sparkles. I love every bit of it. Oh, but the music. The music is what always sets Christmas in a separate realm because, some of the most incredible worship music ever penned gets relegated to this one month of the year and I try to absorb every second of it I can. I wanted to provide an opportunity for a unique Christmas devotional here for you today. I am going to take a moment to lay out portions of the lyrics to some of our most beloved Christmas songs for you to meditate on as well as provide one video at the end of my favorite modern Christmas worship adaptations. Some words will be familiar and some are from stanzas of the songs we rarely hear. Sometimes when we separate the words from the music God can speak His message afresh in our hearts. I hope these words are a blessing as we move only days away from our celebration of the coming of the Savior of the world.
Silent Night
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ the Savior is born
Christ the Savior is born
O Come O Come Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel
O Holy Night
O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world, in sin and error pining.
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Oh night divine, the night when Christ was born.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled”
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest Heav’n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the Heav’n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris’n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing:
“Glory to the newborn King!”
My goodness but these saints knew how to write a song! When I read these words in worship, separate from the tunes that have become so familiar it is such a different experience. And, now for the reverse. Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah is an incredible song I have loved for years. Cloverton adapted it to share the Gospel. It is beautiful and I hope it blesses you today. Merry Christmas my friends.
Anne Rulo 