This has been my favorite Christmas carol ever since hearing it as a small girl. Its message is powerful and beautiful because it takes our reality so seriously.
It is only when we see how badly we needed a Savior to rescue us that we feel the joy and wonder that He really did come for us.
Technically, this isn’t a Creation Hymn because the author doesn’t tell us why we were “pining” (that means slowly dying) in sin. It also doesn’t tell us why the soul hadn’t “felt its worth” before Jesus’ coming.
But we know where to find the answer to those questions! All our misery and emptiness started one day, at the beginning of time. It’s the first history recorded after God tells us how He made everything.
Naturalism sure can’t tell us we have any worth. They tell us we’re just cosmic accidents: really exciting stuff- not!
God gave us worth from the beginning by making us all “in His image”. It’s the only thing that makes us special.
Without Genesis Chapter 3, there is no dark night to be rescued from. When we include the beginning of God’s Word, it all makes sense and we can see our need and God’s awesome plan!
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,
‘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!
Chorus
Fall on your knees,
oh hear the angel voices,
oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born.
Oh night divine, oh night when Christ was born.
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.
Chorus
For more on The Incarnation: Why did God become Man? check out Dr. Sarfati’s article at Creation Ministries International
8 Comments
loopyloo305 · at
God bless you and Merry Christmas my friend!
Cheri Fields · at
You too!
Chris · at
I had not heard O Holy Night before. That’s a beautiful rendition by those boys. Definitely a hymn for performance by trained singers. I suspect the average church congregation would struggle with the complexities of the tune!
Cheri Fields · at
I don’t know. The kind of church I grew up in sang this every year, the only difficulty is if it has a fancy piano line underneath to keep straight. 🙂
Merry Christmas, Chris!
Cheri Fields · at
Well, it is one of the more complex tunes, especially when the accompaniment is in triplets. 😀
But, my family grew up hearing this and it is one of the loveliest to learn. That’s what you get with a French tune: they expect more of their singers, but it will still sound beautiful over 100 years later. 🙂
Ernesto E. Carrasco, M.C.Ed. · at
Reblogged this on Ernie's Musings and commented:
What a great message!
Ernesto E. Carrasco, M.C.Ed. · at
Thank you, Cheri, and Merry Christmas! I must share this! 🙂 This is one of my favorite Christmas carols as is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” among others.
Cheri Fields · at
Love Oh, Come, Emmanuel as well. There’s something amazing about the combination of deep theological lyrics and really quality music. Makes me want to try my hand at tune writing sometimes.
I appreciate the reblog a lot.
Merry Christmas!
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