Jesus's Words

O Holy Night

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Contents

About the Carol

"O Holy Night" originally refereed to the music composed by Adolphe Adam (1803-1856) in 1847, to the French poem "Minuit, chrétiens" (Midnight, Christians). "Minuit, chrétiens" was originally written by Placide Cappeau (1808-1877).

Lyrics Back to Top ↑

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til he appears and the Soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before him lowly bend
Behold your King; before him lowly bend

Truly he taught us to love one another;
His law is love and his gospel is peace
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother
And in his name all oppression shall cease
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

Analysis of Carol Back to Top ↑

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining

This is at most half true. Even when Jesus was born, there were people who were still righteous and blameless before the law. John the Baptist's parents were some of them. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.Luke 1:6 However, most people in the world were incapable of following the law. Thus, it is true to say the world was in sin and error.

'Til he appears and the Soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming

A reference to the wise men who followed the Star of Bethlehem. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.Matthew 2:9, 10

With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land

We do not know if the wise men came from the East, all we know is that they originated far east of Jerusalem. Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.Matthew 2:1

The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend

But only if we do what he commands and have heard all that he has said from the Father. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.John 15:14, 15

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger

Since Jesus is Lord, Jesus knows what we need. That is why he instructs us, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.Matthew 6:31, 32

Behold your King; before him lowly bend
Behold your King; before him lowly bend

Truly he taught us to love one another;
His law is love and his gospel is peace

It is true that Jesus's law is love, as his two greatest commandments, the two commandments that all the other commandments hang on, are about love. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Matthew 22:37-40 But the gospel Jesus preached is not peace, despite what the angels said in Luke 2:14. Jesus said, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.Matthew 10:34

Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother

The slave here is sin. Note that in the following verse, the Greek for "servant" is doulos, or 'slave.' Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.John 8:34

And in his name all oppression shall cease

Eventually, this will be true. But currently, it is sadly not. James writes, Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.James 5:10

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
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