This is my second-to-last post on Christmas songs. But don't you worry, I have saved the best for last! Later this week I'll be posting my most favorite Christmas song! I'm so excited! I love Christmas music!
Today's song is "What Child Is This?" Here are the words below.
One quirky thing about this song is I think the writer might have been the inspiration for Yoda in Star Wars. Everything is written a little backwards. Your sort of have to read a phrase and then go, "ok, its saying this". It's funny and endearing. :)
What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The Cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word Made Flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
Come, peasant, king, to own Him!
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him!
Raise, raise the song on high!
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy! joy! for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary!
One of my favorite things about this song is the way it proclaims!
"This is Christ the King!" "Hail the Word Made Flesh!"
I'm sure you are familiar with the song, and those parts are also the biggest parts of the song. That is no coincidence.
Which leads me to a small tangent about art. When you hear something, see something, watch something... Any art form whether it be dance, music, a play, film etc... everything you see and hear was planned. It's not just (or shouldn't be anyway) an accident. Each step, each word, each shot is carefully planned. So when you hear a song and the music gets bigger, that's the most important part. When you watch a film and you see a close up, pay attention! The story is moving forward. When you look at a painting and your eye is drawn to one particular area, take note. These are where the artist dwells - that is where the point is.
OK so on that note, this song asks a question, and the answer is the choruses. That is the POINT.
My favorite part is in the second verse:
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The Cross be borne for me, for you;
Hail, hail the Word Made Flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary!
This makes me think of John 1. He is the Word made flesh. This book we read, this Bible that we so often disregard, allowing it to gather dust on the shelf or gain wear and tear from sitting somewhere in our car instead of from our times of prayer. The Word is all about Him! It all speaks of Him. The Word made flesh.
"The silent Word is pleading"... This is sort of an interpretive passage - artysy fartsy if you will. :) To me it is the idea that the birth of this little baby is the beginning of a desperate plea of the Lord to draw His people back to Him. He's been calling us since the beginning, but now, at last, a physical manifestation of His plea comes in His Son. He's what the people have been longing for all along. Sadly, many missed Him. They were looking for their own idea of a Messiah. What a shame that we can "miss Him" when we try to make His plans fit our ideas or our thoughts.
Lord, help us be people who get your plan. Help us to seek you instead of trying to make you fit our ideas or plans. May we never miss what you're trying to do in and around us. Help us to have open eyes and expectant hearts!
Tune in Tuesday or Wednesday for my last and most favorite song! There are so many more but maybe I will save them for next year?
No comments:
Post a Comment