Celebrating Christmas Carols Part One
by Barbara Latta
I love Christmas carols! A lot of the newer songs are great
and beautiful, but in my opinion the old hymns we sing year after year are the
best. But because we sing them year after year, the meaning behind the words
can get lost in the tune.
Read the lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing and absorb what these inspired words say to your soul. This song proclaims the entire gospel message, and we should sing this old song all year. The words were penned by Charles Wesley, a Methodist minister who preached in the 1700’s. He wrote this message as a poem and George Whitefield later put the poem to music.
View these words with new eyes. The emphasis is mine to
reflect how this wonderful Christmas hymn shares the reason Christ was born.
Hark!
The herald angels sing
Glory
to the newborn King;
Peace
on earth and mercy mild,
God
and sinners reconciled:
Joyful
all ye nations rise,
Join
the triumph of the skies,
With
the angelic host proclaim,
Christ
is born in Bethlehem;
Hark!
the Herald angels sing
Glory
to the newborn King.
Christ,
by highest heaven adored,
Christ,
the everlasting Lord,
Late
in time behold him come,
Offspring
of a virgin’s womb!
Veiled
in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail
the incarnate deity.
Pleased
as man with men to dwell,
Jesus,
our Emmanuel:
Hark!
the herald angels sing
Glory
to the newborn King.
Hail
the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail
the Sun of Righteousness!
Light
and life to all he brings,
Risen
with healing in his wings;
Mild,
he lays his glory by,
Born
that man no more may die,
Born
to raise the sons of earth,
Born
to give them second birth;
Hark!
the herald angels sing
Glory
to the newborn King.
What are some of your favorite Christmas songs? Feel free to
share what they mean to you.
I love Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. This is one of the songs that we sang at a Christmas luncheon this week. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis song presents the gospel message abd goves us hope because of the birth of Christ. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteI love Christmas Carols--both heaing and singing them. "Hark! The Heald Angels Sing" is one of my many favorites. It shares the glory of our Savior's birth in joyful praise. Thanks for sharing about this lovely Christmas hymn. Merry Christmas, Barbara and family!
ReplyDeleteI have many favorites and this one is on that list. Thanks for sharing, Katherine, and Merry Christmas and blessings to you too!
DeleteI like the way you break these lyrics down for us and highlight the more important ones. Today, this is my favorite. I attended 3 Christmas events last week and Hark the Herald Angels Sing was presented at each one.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas, Barbara!
DeleteCandyce
These Christmas hymns are so anointed. They do present the reason Christ was born. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteIt is a beautiful song. We have not sung it yet at church but hopefully soon. Thanks Barbara
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame we only sing these at Christmas. The message gives us so much hope. Thanks for sharing, Yvonne. Blessings and Merry Christmas!
DeleteLike you, I enjoy not only singing these carols but also looking at the meaning in the words. There is souch biblical truth within them. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Vicki, there is so much truth prented to us in these songs. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
DeleteAm right there with you Ms. Barbara. While I can enjoy the more modern worship songs and CHRISTmas songs, there's something about the old hymns and carols that will always draw me to them. I think they've become engrained in my heart, much like God's Word itself. Merry CHRISTmas sweet friend and I'm so glad you're home.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you too and thanks so much for sharing. I'm glad to be home too! Blessings!
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