Truth In Song

I've been especially blessed by the music of Christmas this year. Especially since I had a little "blue" episode right after Thanksgiving that lasted for a few weeks, one of the things that really soothed my soul during this time was the beautiful truth in the music that was always around me - even in secular arenas! (Btw, I'm feeling much better now, thanks. :)). To me, this is one of God's inside jokes - that the secular world, which denies him, obliviously proclaims His truth loudly during the Christmas season. I mean, seriously, how often do you find someone like Clay Aiken proclaiming "Joy to the world - the Lord is come! Let Earth receive her King!" :)

I think because we hear/sing these Christmas carols so often, their meaning and beauty sometimes gets lost, but I've really been focusing on the lyrics lately. I can definitely appreciate the beautiful imagery I find there!

For instance - from "Silent Night" -

Silent night, holy night. Son of God, love's pure light!

Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace.

Jesus, Lord at Thy birth! Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!

Or this one (Angels From The Realms of Glory):

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the Earth!

Ye who sang creation's story, now proclaim Messiah's birth!

Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn King!

I've rediscovered a love for "Hark The Herald Angels Sing". In fact, I think each line of this song is so incredible powerful that I'm going to incude all four verses, even though I KNOW most of you will skip over them, thinking, "I know the words to Hark the Herald Angels Sing". (Read them anyway - you might not know them as well as you think!)

1)

Hark! the herald angels sing - "Glory to the newborn king!"

Peace of earth, and mercy mild! God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations rise! Join the triumph of the skies!

With angelic host, proclaim: Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! The herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn king"!

2)

Christ by highest heav'n adored! Christ, the everlasting Lord!

Late in time, behold him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see - Hail the Incarnate Deity!

Pleased, as man, with men to dwell - Jesus, our Immanuel!

Hark, the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn king!"

3)

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!

Light and Life to all He brings, risen with healing in his wings.

Hail the Son of Righteousness! Hail the heavn' born Prince of Peace!

Hark, the herald angels sing: "Glory to the newborn king!"

4)

Come, desire of nations, come! Fix us in thy humble home!

Rise, the woman's Conquering Seed! Bruise in us the serpent's head!

Adam's likeness now efface - stamp Thine image in it's place!

Second Adam, from above, reinstate us in thy love!

Hark, the herald angels sing - "Glory to the newborn king!"

I actually got teary just typing the words. They take my breath away. HARK, people! We have gotten the news that CHRIST is come! He has come to reconcile us to a God whom we were previously unable to know as a merciful, loving Father because of our sin! Now we have the ability to be seen SPOTLESS, BLAMELESS, JUSTIFIED as CHILDREN of this holy God!

This news should certainly bring "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!

Joy to the Earth! The Savior reigns! Let men their songs employ!

While fields and flood, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy!

Repeat the sounding joy! Repeat, repeat the sounding joy!

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground!

He comes to make His blessings known, far as the Curse is found

Far as the curse is found, far as, far as the curse is found!

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness, and wonder of His love,

And wonder of His love, and wonder - wonder! - of His love!

And finally, one last favorite:

Break forth, O beauteous heavenly light! And usher in the morning!

Ye shepherds, shrink not with afright, but heed the angel's warning:

"This Child, now weak in infancy, our confidence and joy shall be!

The power of Satan breaking! Our peace eternal making!"

If you're feeling overwhelmed lately, I'd encourage you to scoop up some of your fav Christmas CD's, get a hot cup of tea, and meditate on the beautiful scriptural truths in our Christmas carols. We forget what Christmas is about - it's really NOT about loving your neighbor as yourself, sharing the love of Christ, or the other neat little pat sayings we mindlessly say around this time of year. All of those are good things that will naturally result from Christmas Day, but the real theme of Christmas is personal redemption - Christ has come, and as a result I have been redeemed. God has fulfilled his promises! The chains of sin in my life are broken, my peace is established (oh, this one is so precious to me! Peace!), He has come to bless and establish IN MY LIFE!

If that doesn't put everything in perspective for you, I don't know what will. Merry Christmas!