O Little Town of Bethlehem (Advent 15-2014)

Today’s carol in our Carol Me, Christmas (2014 Advent Devotional Series) is one of the more famous of the Christmas carols, O Little Town of Bethlehem.  The words to this carol were written in 1868 by an Episcopal priest by the name of Phillips Brooks who was Rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia, PA.  The inspiration for this hymn was Brooks’ reflection back to a trip he had taken to the town of Bethlehem in 1865. Notes by Louis Redner on this hymn state,

“As Christmas of 1868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday-school service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. The simple music was written in great haste and under great pressure. We were to practice it on the following Sunday. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday, and said, ‘Redner, have you ground out that music yet to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”?’ I replied, ‘No,’ but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday-school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.

Redner’s composition, which another pastor—Rev. Dr. Huntington—asked to publish in his Sunday-school hymn book called The Church Porch, became titled by Huntington simply as Saint Louis.  The music’s simplicity accounts for a good deal of the carol’s ongoing popularity.

The theology is solidly present, although the song itself is addressed to the town of Bethlehem.  Odd as that sounds, it’s not without biblical precedent.

Micah 5:1 Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. 2

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. 6 They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders. 7 The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind. 8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. 9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed. 10 “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. 11 I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. 12 I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. 13 I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. 14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles and demolish your cities. 15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”

Not exactly the picture of stillness and lullaby sounds.  This is the dark side of Christmas.  We are in the dark streets but the everlasting Light is shining.  At some point, those of us alive will experience the Second Advent, the Return of Christ. It will not be the peaceful quiet Bethlehem of the hymn, but with righteousness as Christ’s banner, He will enter in as victorious.

As you read the poem by Brooks and listen to this version on cello by Nicholas D. Yee, ponder our Thought Focus for Today.

Thought Focus for Today:  Sometimes you’ll hear proverbs like “It’s always darkest before the dawn” or “There’s always calm before the storm.”  How does O Little Town of Bethlehem remind us of the dark stillness before the Advent and Second Advent of Christ?

1. 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 to-night.

 

2. 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.

 

3. How silently, how silently,

The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

The dear Christ enters in.

 

4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin, and enter in,

Be born in us to-day.

We hear the Christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our God Emmanuel.

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Carol Me, Christmas (2014 Advent Devotional Series) began November 30th.  By way of reminder, if you haven’t signed up yet, you can receive these devotional studies in your email throughout Advent 2014 by entering your email address on the SeminaryGal.com home page in the space provided in the sidebar.  Or “Like” the SeminaryGal Facebook page to access them there.  If you like these devotionals, I’d really appreciate your letting others know so I can continue to spread the Good News far and wide.  Blessings to you, in Christ always, Barbara <><