Christians Awake Salute the Happy Morn

About the Carol

John Byrom wrote "Christians Awake Salute the Happy Morn" (1692-1763). During his life, Byrom did not seek much respect as a writer. It was only after his death that his writings were published, once in 1773, and a more complete edition in 1814.

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Analysis of Carol ^{Back to Top ↑}

December 25th is as good a day as any to praise the birth of Jesus, especially since we do not know the exact day of his birth.

The Bible speaks a lot about love, but it never says that love is a mystery. This line is completely made up by the author.

A reference to the choir of angels who praised God before the shepherds. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.^{Luke 2:13, 14}

We know that Jesus is Lord for plenty of reasons, but the best is that Jesus did not correct Thomas' assertion: And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. ^{John 20:28, 29a}

Isaiah might also have recorded that Jesus was to be born of a virgin. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ^{Isaiah 7:14} However, there is some discussion that the Hebrew word for "virgin" in Isaiah's verse was supposed to mean "maiden" instead.

While not quite what the angel said, this is really close. The exact record is, And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.^{Luke 2:10-14}

Unfortunately, it is not recorded whether all of heaven was filled with hallelujahs.

These lines are pretty close to what is recorded in Luke. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.^{Luke 2:13, 14}

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. ^{Luke 2:15, 16}

The author has taken some artistic liberties with this Christmas passage, but once again, these lines match up close enough. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.^{Luke 2:20}

It is not known if "God's love" was what Mary was pondering, the Bible only records, But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.^{Luke 2:19}

Luke uses this terminology one more time, when Mary and Joseph lost track of Jesus, and find him in the Temple. And [Jesus] said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. ^{Luke 2:49-51}

It is just as likely that Mary was pondering how difficult it would be to raise a king as a child, rather than pondering about God's love for humanity.

This last line references the resurrection. Jesus speaks about it quite a bit, but two verses record him saying, But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. ^{Luke 20:35, 36}