This is the eighth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger,Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!Behold your King, Behold your King.Being God, Jesus obviously knows what we need. His . . . . Continue Reading »
hymn, n [from the Latin hymnus, song of praise] 1: a song of praise to God 2: a metrical composition adapted for singing in a religious serviceFor centuries, Christians have sung hymns in order to praise God. Anyone who knows a hymn like “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” or “Now . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the seventh part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.The King of Kings Lay thus in lowly manger;In all our trials Born to be our friend.The King of Kings is a lofty title. I used to think of it merely as God ruling over all the . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the sixth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.So led by light of A star sweetly gleaming,Here come the wise men From Orient land.These two lines again point to the star over Bethlehem. But there is a subtle difference to its . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the fifth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,With glowing hearts By His cradle we stand.The “light of faith serenely beaming” likely refers to the star over Bethlehem that . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the fourth part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels’ voices!O night divine, O night when Christ was born;O night divine, O night, O night Divine There are two pictures of heavenly worship . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the third part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices,For yonder breaks A new and glorious morn.As a consequence of sin, God cursed the ground (Gen 3:17). Man has had to toil in pain to provide . . . . Continue Reading »
I love Christmas and the jollification that comes with it and the carols that come with the Holidays are a big part of the reason.Christmas brings out the best in many tune writers: think Handel, Wesley, and the obscure pious pastor who wrote Silent Night. Hallelujah! Clever, but aging, singers have . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the second part in a twelve part devotional commentary on “O Holy Night.” See the introduction here.Long lay the world In sin and error pining,’Til He appear’d And the soul felt its worth.The dark world into which our Savior was born is one living in sin. Paul, . . . . Continue Reading »
Longtime readers know of my obsession with mathematical beauty, so it should come as no surprise to find me hopping up and down most eagerly and pointing you towards Matthew Milliner’s very immodest proposal in Public Discourse. My only quibble with the article is that the proportion of . . . . Continue Reading »
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