This year I've noticed some great stuff in Christmas songs which I've never noticed before. I think it started when I was in a primary school as the kids practiced for their Christmas show (every single Tuesday for the whole of November and December, poor teachers). One of the songs they did was Away in a Manger, which I'm sure every person in the UK sung countless times in their childhood. The thing is, although I must have sung that song at least 100 times, I don't think I've ever really noticed the words. As I was listening to the kids sing, but not really listening as I'd heard it every week for nearly 2 months, the song caught my attention. The first half is standard sweet little baby Jesus (who never cries, apparently, but I think he would, being a proper human baby and all) lying comfortably on a bed of soft hay, surrounded by the animals serenading him with moo's and baa's. So the first half, nothing special for me. Maybe you like it, but personally, it just doesn't float my boat. I hope that doesn't make me a heretic or anything.
Anyway as the children started singing the second half, as I listened to the words that they were saying, I felt like my heart was going to burst, in a 'feelings' sort of way, I wasn't having a heart attack or anything. It goes like this:
Be near me, Lord Jesus,
I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever
And love me I pray
Bless all the dear children
In Thy tender care
And take us to heaven
To live with Thee there
It's a common song, and I think often the words are probably sung but not heard. You know, 'oh its away in a manger, same old same old'. But it doesn't really sink in. It's just become a meaningless routine.
But they are incredible, simple, beautiful words. A simple appeal to God. I was sitting there in the school hall just praying and praying that those children were meaning what they were singing, and that God would hear their request and would indeed be Immanuel, God on earth, with us, close to us. I hope for some of the people singing this song, it touches their hearts.
The second song I've noticed the words to this Christmas is Hark The Herald Angels Sing. We sang it at my church christmas meal, and it was the sort of occasion where people don't stand up for the songs. But we sang this song and its the sort of song that if you listen to the words and mean what you sing, it's hard to stay sitting down. So me and my friend bravely arose even though everyone else was sitting down! I think we looked a bit silly but it's good to do something with all of yourself. I never want to hold back. So here's the song. Read it, and maybe dwell on what it means next time you sing it, because it says some HUGELY significant things.
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!"
(I put my favourite bits in capitals!)
I love the bit 'with the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in bethlehem' - we stand side by side with the angels PROCLAIMING to the world that Jesus is born, God is with us!
So today at Christmas alongside all the presents and tinsel and ham (waay better than turkey) and board games and television and trees and christmas pudding and christmas cards (coz all those things are GREAT), I say ... glory to the King of Kings: Jesus Christ, my daddy God, and his Spirit who lives in me.
