O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel.
I love all Christmas music, but I soon get tired when radio stations begin their Christmas playlist in early November. There are some Christmas songs, however, that I could listen to year-round. One of my favorites, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," has a simple melody, but the words,written by Phillips Brooks after a visit to the Holy Land, are what make it special. According to the website http://www.carols.org.uk, Brooks was inspired by the view of Bethlehem from the surrounding hills at night. Later, Lewis Redner, the church organist wrote the melody for a children's Sunday school choir.
The third verse is my favorite. I can only imagine the humble birth of Jesus that day, but the promise in that birth is very real for me over 2000 years later. The lyrics of the song remind me of how I should live my life. I'm still figuring out what it means to be a meek soul, but the second chapter of Philippians is a good place to start. So thanks, Mr. Brooks, for a carol for the ages. And thanks to God for His promise to abide with us.
