O Holy Night

This Christmas carol is a favourite of mine and is unsurpassed in terms of melody and lyrics.Versions have been sung by Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Sara Groves, David Archuleta, Nat King Cole and many others (not forgetting the choir that Christine and I are a part of). Words vary a lot and verses are often omitted, but here is one version of the lyrics, along with my comments.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world 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 divine, O night, O night Divine.

Once again we have a carol which proclaims that the coming of Jesus would change the world. A weary world rejoices. There is suddenly hope. A new era in the affairs of men is commencing. We cannot help falling on our knees in wonder that God Himself should come to this world to bring it a hope and a future.

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 come 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 divine, O night, O night Divine.

We cannot go back in time and actually see the newborn Christ, but in faith we can know, with glowing hearts, the wonder of it all. For this baby is in fact the King of Kings, yet born to be our friend!

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.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

This verse, although often missed out, has the most powerful words.

• we must love one another.
• He came to bring love and peace.
• He breaks chains.
• He reminds us that the lowliest, and most oppressed members of our society (slaves) are not the enemy, they are our brothers!
• When Christ’s Kingdom is present, oppression has no place, and will cease.
• We are the most fulfilled when we are full of gratefulness and praise.