Sing to the Lord…
“Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!” Psalm 147:1 NIV
There was a silly post on FB that said: “How many syllables are in Gloria?” “16 if you are Catholic.” I think it could have read “16 if you are singing Angels We Have Heard on High.” Christmas and music just go together. God becoming man is something to sing about. When I am alone in the car I sing at the top of my lungs. In my head I sing really well but in real life I am pretty sure I am tone deaf so mostly I mouth the words or sing softly but my spirit and soul are rejoicing. I read once that when we sing together we take a breath at the same time. So whether I am singing softly and you are singing loudly we still took a breath at the same time that is cool.
A favorite Christmas song of mine is Silent Night. This year is the 200th anniversary of the first performance of Silent Night. According to an article in New Straits Times, December 22, 2018 – “It was originally written as a poem by priest Joseph Mohr in 1816, a time of great suffering in the wake of Europe’s Napoleonic wars. Two years later, Mohr asked his friend, the organist, choirmaster and schoolteacher Franz Xaver Gruber, to compose a melody. The carol was first performed to a modest church congregation of ship labourers and their families. Years after its premiere, Gruber wrote that it had met with “general approval by all” among the congregation.”
“Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peaceSilent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is bornSilent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth”
Scripture tells us in Luke 2:8-20
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
It seems that both the angels and the shepherds “sang” about Jesus’ birth.
“Keith Getty, a Nashville-based modern hymn writer, said the carols can deepen a person’s faith throughout their lifetime.”There is something about singing songs throughout your life that has a more poignant effect on one’s spiritual life and whole person,” Getty said. And more can be learned from these seasonal songs than just the Christmas story. “The carols are stunning works because they connect theology to the reality of life,” From Silent Night to Joy to the World:Why we celebrate Christmas with music. by Holly Meyer Nashville Tennessean Friday December 21, 2018
When my daughter was in Kindergarten (she is now a mom with two kiddos) she learned the song “Jesus was Born Today” by the Oak Ridge Boys. An oldie but goodie in my house and the perfect sing-a-long song in the car. Years later, I would become the aide in that same classroom with the same teacher and again would experience the pure joy of little ones learning this song. I included it for your listening pleasure. There were always giggles at the part with the guy with the very low voice. Enjoy! Remember Jesus was Born Today!!!
There’s just something about Christmas music especially the ones about baby Jesus that brings a tear to my eye. Silent Night is one of my all time favorites!