“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, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.”
It’s hard to imagine that these lyrics were written in 1847, and yet, they have survived the test of time. The relevance of this beautiful Christmas carol reaches deep, touching the soul.
As the words, “A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn,” run through my mind, emotions erupt, and tears flow. The significance behind these lyrics sinks into the core of my being. This has always been one of my favourite Christmas carols, but each year it takes on a whole new meaning.
This past year, the world has grieved so many tragedies, far too many to name. You may have faced or are facing your own deep sense of loss that makes celebrating so difficult. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining” ... could we express it any better? We live in a broken world, but the Light still shines because Jesus came to heal and redeem on that most holy of nights long ago.
The lyrics of this most cherished carol were composed in France by a poet who later left the church. A composer of Jewish descent created the music. Unbelievably, this beloved hymn was once universally condemned by the church. It was later brought to North America to serve as a tool to highlight the sinful nature of slavery.
“Truly, He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains He shall break, for the slave is our brother; and in His name, all oppression shall cease.”
On Christmas Eve 1906, Reginald Fessenden spoke into a microphone, and for the first time in history, a man’s voice was broadcast over the airwaves. In a clear, strong voice, he read the account of the birth of our Saviour from the Gospel of Luke. He then picked up his violin and played “O Holy Night,” the first time this carol was heard via radio waves.
Perhaps the most meaningful of all the lines of this hymn may be ... “Fall on your knees, O hear the angels’ voices ... O night divine, O night when Christ was born.”
There it is ... the sweet hope, the deep joy, the ever-constant, never-ending, unchanging truth of the gospel! We can rise from our knees, from our pining, from our grief, from our despair, and with one voice sing: “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!”
With grateful praise ... have a blessed and peace-filled Christmas as you celebrate the birth of our Saviour on that most Holy of Nights.
Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.