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December 21 – Mary’s Boy Child (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 21, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 2 Comments

4 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

Mary’s Boy Child was written by Jester Hairston in 1956 and recorded by Harry Belafonte that same year.

Commentary & Analysis

This one is a little more offbeat as Christmas songs go, but I love the very first line in that it reminds us of our source of all truth when it comes to Christmas.  No matter what society tries to change the holiday into, not matter what fallacies have come to be accepted because of their inclusion in Christmas songs, no matter how many stories are written are about Santa Claus and his elves, the only real source of information on Christmas is the Bible – “..so the Holy Bible say.”

This song presents Christmas in its simplest terms, a baby (Jesus) was born in a manger in Bethlehem to Mary and Joseph on Christmas Day.  Through his life, and death, we are reconciled to God, conquer death and live forever in his presence.  The angels announced the coming of this eternal King to lowly shepherds.

Questions for further Reflection / Devotion

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December 20 – The First Noel (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 20, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 1 Comment

5 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

This carol is a traditional English Christmas Carol dating from the 18th century.  It was first published in its current form in 1823.

Commentary & Analysis

This song reflects on three of the preeminent events that people think of when they think of Christmas.  First, of course, is the birth of Christ.  “Born is the King of Israel” is the final line of each and every verse.  The first two verses discuss the angels’ appearance to the shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem to announce the birth of Jesus.  Although this song is fairly faithful to the biblical account, there are a couple of items in the first couple of verse which are not in the original stories.  First, there is no indication that it was a “cold winter’s night” on the night when Jesus was born.  Although many of here in the west dream yearly of a “white Christmas,” the Bible gives no indication of the weather on that historical night.  Secondly, although they may have seen it, the Bible does not indicate that the Shepherds noticed the star which later guided the wise men to Bethlehem.

The final three verses of the song deal with the wise men from the east that came to see Jesus.  Although much has been made of the wise men that came to see Jesus, and numerous songs have been written about them, the entire biblical account of their visit is as follows:

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December 19 – Mary’s Song (Breath of Heaven) (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 19, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 1 Comment

6 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

Written by Chris Eaton, and performed by Amy Grant, this song first appeared on Amy Grant’s second Christmas album titled Home For Christmas released in 1992.  On a personal note, it ranks as one of my favorite “contemporary” Christmas songs.

Commentary & Analysis

This song is written from the perspective of Mary.  Mary was a young woman told by an angel that she would give birth to the Son of God.  She was a young woman who traveled many miles on foot and donkey to travel to Bethlehem to be counted for the census.  Although not based on the biblical account, this song is an interesting account of what it might have been like.  Starting with the question as to why she might have been the one chosen and moving on the fear that Mary must have felt being the mother of Christ to questioning whether she was the right person for the job, this songs reflects on the range of emotion which Mary may have gone through ultimately crying out for God to be with her.  Interestingly, the only thing the Bible tells us about Mary’s reaction was in her immediate response “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

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December 18 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 18, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 2 Comments

7 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

This song was written by Charles Wesley and first appeared in print in 1739.  The opening verse was originally written as “Hark! how all the welkin rings / Glory to the King of Kings.”  The version sung today is different from Wesley original tune mainly due to alterations made by George Whitfield who worked with Wesley.  This song is considered one of the “Great Four” Anglican Hymns.

Commentary & Analysis

This song covers many of the same items as previous songs in this Christmas Carol Advent, and rather than regurgitate many of the same themes covered with those other songs, I thought it might be fun to simply go through this entire song and add verse references and support to the lyrics shown below. So, with just one more week until Christmas, here we go…

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December 17 – Babe in The Straw (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 17, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 1 Comment

8 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

Babe in the Straw is performed by the Christian group Caedmon’s Call.   Like Manger Throne (featured earlier in the month), this song first appeared on the Christmas album titled City On a Hill: It’s Christmas Time released in 2002.

Commentary & Analysis

This song is written from the perspective of someone observing a fragile, innocent, little baby lying in a manger and wondering how that baby could really be the Son of God sent to change the world.  This is a struggle felt ‘round the world by billions of people over the last 2,000 years as they look upon Jesus and wonder, “could it really be?”

The first verse asks, “Have you come to redeem us?”  Has this little baby, asleep in manager, really been sent by God to redeem his people?  It seems so unlikely, but in the currency of God who works through the unimaginable, there was really nothing to be surprised by.  The second verse answers the question posed in the first verse.  This is the “Prince of the Universe” that the prophets of old had spoken of who would come to save God’s people.  The third verse is more of a prayer recognizing that we will lose our way and asking Christ to always guide us back to him.  In our lives, when we start to wonder, we should ask God to draw us back to Bethlehem, draw us back to the cross, draw us to the empty tomb – Draw us to Jesus!  The Bible assures us that if we draw near to him, he will draw near to us. (James 4:8)

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December 16 – Go Tell It On the Mountain (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 16, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 1 Comment

9 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” was written as an African-American spiritual song by John W. Work.  The carol dates back to the 1860’s and has been performed by a number of gospel performers over the years.

Commentary & Analysis

This song starts with the scene of the shepherds watching their flocks outside Bethlehem when suddenly a light from heaven appeared and angels came to tell them of the birth of their savior and ours (Luke 2:8-15).  The chorus of the song rings out with joy about the good news of Jesus Christ and echoes the feelings that innumerable people have had upon learning what Jesus Christ has done for us – “Go, Tell It On the Mountain, Over the hills and everywhere.”  We are called to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who do not know him (Matthew 28:19-20).

The third verse recounts the story of Jesus’ birth in a manger (Luke 2:13).  It also reminds us that lying in that humble manger was the savior of all mankind (Acts 16:31).  The fourth verse reminds us of the lostness we felt prior to accepting Jesus as Lord.  Finally, the fifth verse reminds us that we should never be proud in our standing as Christians.  We are called by God out of his grace, and the only appropriate response to that is one of humility.

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December 15 – Christmas Hymn (A Christmas Carol Advent)

December 15, 2009 in Christmas, Music with 1 Comment

10 MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

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History

Written by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith, A Christmas Hymn first appeared on Amy Grant’s first Christmas CD appropriately titled “A Christmas Album.”  It was released in 1983.

Commentary & Analysis

This modern day hymn written by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith captures the majesty of Christmas and the redeeming work of Christ.  The song begins with a reminder that the coming of Christ to die for our sins was the ultimate demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16).  In coming to take on human flesh, Christ left his throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to be born as a baby in a manger.

One minor issue I have with this song comes in the second verse that proclaims “All creation praised him.”  Indeed, at some point in the future every knee shall bow (Romans 14:11), but when Jesus came the Bible is clear that he came to his own and they did not know him (John 1:11).  Perhaps they had something else in mind when they wrote this verse, but at his first coming all of God’s creation did not praise him.

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