Today I wrap up my blogs about Christmas songs with the best one yet!
"O Holy Night" is hands down my most favorite Christmas song, and has been for years! I think I might be one of the few people that actually knows all the words and not just the first verse. The song actually started as a poem, but once it was written, the writer decided to have his friend compose music for it. Take a moment to read it below.
"O Holy Night" is hands down my most favorite Christmas song, and has been for years! I think I might be one of the few people that actually knows all the words and not just the first verse. The song actually started as a poem, but once it was written, the writer decided to have his friend compose music for it. Take a moment to read it below.
O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend!
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
I just absolutely love these lyrics. One thing that a lot of my favorite Christmas songs have in common is that they imagine what it would have been like to be there that night when Jesus was born. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the chorus -- "fall on your knees, hear the angel's voices, o night divine!" I can imagine myself as this shepherd who hasn't seen much extravagance in his life, falling on my knees as angels fill the skies, knowing in that moment that I am the richest of the rich.
This song expresses not only the joy of Jesus' birth, but the fact that we so desperately needed him. The world was stuck in sin, pinning for it's Savior.... longing for rescue.... seeking hope. And all of a sudden, at the moment of His birth it breaks forth like the dawn. Like a sunrise on the darkest night. I imagine that for those who knew of Jesus' arrival, the days after seems brighter.
I also love that this song references the thrill of hope. Hope is exciting! It's life changing! In the day-to-day I often lose this thrill. I get caught up in my life, my circumstances, and just the daily tasks on my mind. Thank God we have a season that can help us take a step back and remember his glorious hope.
One more thing on hope: The fact that Jesus came to die on the cross for us means we are now reconciled to him. We were once enemies and are now called friends, brothers and sisters, even children. That why I love when it says "the King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger, in all our trials born to be our friend." I don't know about you but that makes me want to fall on my knees! Not only is he our friend who is walking through it with us, but he's already been there! He's lived the pain of every trial and every heartache. He's made it through already. (John 16:33) He's lived and conquered it, and he willingly walks by our side as we experience it. What a great God!
Lastly, the third verse communicates God's very nature: love, peace, freedom and joy.
LOVE AND PEACE.
It reminds we that we are to be united in him. Offense and division are WAY too prevalent in our Christian community today. "Truly he taught us to love one another." Good and bad. Offense and kindness. In it all, love. Learn to love, and love better.
FREEDOM.
Our God is a chain breaker! Hallelujah!
JOY.
There is nothing to do but fall on our knees and praise him with the angels.
This is why "O Holy Night" is my favorite Christmas song! I hope you enjoyed reading these, and that they helped you get into the Christmas spirit!
Lovely post Sara! I absolutely love this song too. It was KOST's "Behind the Song" this morning...did you hear it?
ReplyDeleteI missed it! Bummer! What's your favorite version?
ReplyDelete