An Advent Playlist: Hymn-Based DevotionsSample

Silent night! Holy night

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face
with the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

This powerful little carol has so worked its way into people’s hearts all over the world that it isn’t really Christmas unless you sing it at least once, preferably on Christmas Eve, preferably with the lights down low, children’s faces lit only by the lights on the Christmas tree.

An Austrian village priest wrote these beautiful words in 1816, and a schoolteacher/organist quickly penned a simple tune to fit, although probably it was played for the first time on guitar in 1818.

Deep theology radiates from these simple words and pure pictures. The incarnation of Christ was not the actual blood-redemption, but it was the dawn. With the arrival of God’s Son on earth, the long centuries of waiting were over, and God’s plans were in motion.

Possibly all was not so very calm nor bright ’round yon virgin mother and child. In fact, if Jesus was like almost every other baby, he squawked just like us when he needed food or fresh diapers. In your mind’s eye, just look at God’s Son and Mary’s Son lying there. Imagine the heavenly radiance that glowed from his little face and be certain of this – God must love me very, very much.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).