Thought for December 20, 2023

•  1812: "Grimm's Fairy Tales" first published
• 1820: Missouri imposes a $1 tax on bachelors between 21-50
• 1946: "It's A Wonderful Life" premiers
• 1957: Elvis receives his draft notice
• 1960: Viet Cong officially formed
• Born: Bonnie Prince Charlie, Harvey Firestone, Branch Rickey, Kylian Mbappe [soccer]
• Died: Sacagawea, John Steinbeck, Carl Sagan, Katharina von Bora Luther [wife of Martin Luther; her last recorded words were, "I will cling to my Lord Christ as a burr on a coat."--good advice]

Sarah Addison Pollard died on this date in 1934. She wrote "Have Thine on Way Lord." She wanted to be a missionary to Africa, but could never raise the funds. She was very disappointed. She changed her name to Adelaide which is what you see in the hymnals. At a prayer meeting an elderly woman said, "It doesn't matter what You bring into our lives Lord. Just have Your own way with us." At home she read about the potter and clay in Jeremiah 18 and wrote the great hymn. Make your prayer today the last line of the hymn--"Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only always living in me."

Thought:

Thinking again about Christmas songs this morning. So many were written about the angels singing about the birth of Jesus. 

One of the earliest was written in controversy in 1796. At that time the Anglican Church sang exclusively from Sternhold-Hopkins Psalter published in 1562 shortly after the Reformation. The Psalter was faithful to the scripture, but not very poetic and very difficult to sing. Two Irishmen [Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady] created a "New Version" in metric form and more poetic. Many churches refused to use the New Version since it was not the exact words of Scripture--sounds like debates in the church today over music and instruments. King William II endorsed the New Version and later the American Episcopal Church did as well. A supplement to the New Version contained an original hymn by Nahum Tate, "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks." As I read the words to that song I notice--the glory of the Lord came down. What a thought--Lord may we see Your glory and may we be a candle of light to reflect Your glory. When God came in Jesus it was good news of great joy--the gospel is good news for a Savior has come. 

One of the songs about angels singing about the birth of Christ has a line that really grabs me--"ye who sang creations story, now proclaim Messiah's birth." Think about that. Angels singing creation's story now singing Christ's birth.  Angels who sang when God said let there be light in Genesis, now sing the coming of the Light of the world. Angels who watched chaos become order in creation now see the Christ who will restore God's order and redeem the world that is in darkness. Now, we that have experienced the light of Jesus and sing His praises weekly, can look forward to singing at His second coming when everything will be made new. "Angels from the Realms of Glory" was written by James Montgomery, son of Moravian missionaries to Barbados. Christmas Eve in 1816 he opened his Bible to Luke 2:13 and wrote the poem that are the words to the carol. It was placed to music and first performed in 1821. You might scan the verses today and notice how the song of the angels became the song of all creation.

• Angels who sang creations story now sing about the Christ who will be the One who recreates.
• Shepherds hear the song and respond. Leaving the Christ child they return singing and rejoicing.
• Wise men seek the desire of every nation.
• Saints rejoice because their prayers have been answered [Anna, Zacharias, Simeon]. And we rejoice with them.
• All creation joins in praising Father Son and Holy Spirit

Today, let's join with the angels, the shepherds and all the saints and sing--"come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King."

Blessings

Larry