For the next number of days, I want to take a few moments and look at music that has helped to shape our understanding of what concentrating on the birth of Jesus Christ is all about. I am certainly not a classically trained musician, (nor have I ever claimed to be,) but I do appreciate good music.
Some of the carols that we sing during the holiday season wouldn't be out of place if we sang them at other times of the year (except for the perceptions of those who have only heard them during the Christmas season.)
And so, each day I am going to concentrate on one Advent hymn. I'll try to share a little of the background of the song from what I have gleaned, and I'll also attempt to tie in each carol with some applicable scripture to give us a biblical perspective. I'll also share a link so that you can listen to the hymn if you want to.
Certainly, you can find a variety of musicians (and groups of musicians) that perform this hymn. Nat King Cole just happens to be one of my favorites.
The author of the lyrics to this song is Charles Wesley (yes, he's related to John Wesley...it's actually John's younger brother.) From my research, it appears that this hymn was first introduced in a collection of hymns and sacred poems in 1739. It's my understanding that Charles Wesley wrote more than 6000 (yes, six thousand) hymns during his lifetime. Just discovering that fact took my breath away!
Here are the lyrics to this beautiful song:
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 the angelic host 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!"
It's obvious (even at first glance,) that Charles is a theologian. I want to challenge you to go back over the lyrics and look deeply at the biblical principles of salvation found in this beautiful song. Let me direct you to just one right now:
"Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
These 10 words pack a scriptural whallop! Compare these ten words to the following texts:
The theme is simply this; you and I were lost, but God sent Jesus down to planet earth so that we could be saved! It's a powerful message, and the rest of "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" has others if you look for them.
My challenge to you today is to re-read the lyrics of this old carol and open your bible to search for other truths that were spoken of in this hymn. It's a great way to "dig" into some of the reasons why Charles Wesley might choose to write it in the first place. Perhaps you can find a quiet moment or two today, turn on your favorite rendition of this song, and study it in more detail. I hope you'll be
blessed.
