It came upon the midnight clear,
By Edmund H. Sears and duet performed by Hound and Fox
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold
When the new heav’n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
The hymn writer, Edmund Sears, paints a vivid picture of a world in darkness, time dragging but the years flying, a weary world toiling away “beneath life’s crushing load,” our bodies fatigued and our minds no less so. Doesn’t it sound like our Babel world today of human striving and mock omniscience of AI?
It’s midnight on the doomsday clock. It’s always midnight. Until the Light comes.
I like what author Arthur Waskow says about Hanukkah which I apply to Jesus.
“Late in Kislev we are close to the moment of the winter solstice…it is the darkest moment of the year, the moment it’s easiest to believe that the light will never return, the moment it is easiest to despair. At this dark moment, we celebrate Hanukkah–the Feast of Dedication–by lighting candles.” (Seasons of Our Joy-Arthur Waskow)
While Hanukkah is not a commanded religious festival (2 Chronicles 8:13) like Tabernacles or the Passover, Jesus pointed out: “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I AM the Light of the world.” (John 9:4-5) In fact, if you read John 9 and 10, Jesus also restores the sight of the blind man. It’s all connected.
On His way to this Feast of Dedication, Behold! See! Jesus points others to Himself, proclaiming, “I AM” the Gate, the Good Shepherd, and the Light of the world. He came to give sight to the blind. Can you see this?
Principle: It is into such a deep darkness that His Light shines the brightest.
Aim: To focus on the hope present in the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, and go light up your world with this good news.
At Christmas, a prayer: How we praise You, Lord Jesus, that You came first for salvation and then You will return in Judgment! Our dark world should tell every person alive that Your Return is near. It’s midnight in our world! Fix our eyes on the horizon of Your Return so that we will be ready by repenting and believing the good news that angels proclaimed at Your birth. Amazing! We love You! Amen.