We Three Kings of Orient Are

Twelve Songs of Christmas #12

We Three Kings of Orient Are

They weren’t kings.

Nowhere does the Bible say that there were three.

Matthew says they came from the east, so they very well could have been oriental. Possibly.

Still, when the title has two, and possibly three mistakes, you’ve got a problem.

We Three Kings of Orient Are is an imagined narration by the magi who traveled to see the one born king of the Jews.  The writer of this song is not the only one who has assumed that there were three who followed the star.  Writers since the middle ages have said that there were three.  Every modern nativity set and Christmas play has three people following a star.  

People have also written that they were kings for many years.

Most likely, they were astronomers.

They were following a star, after all.

Matthew describes the scene this way:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him”…Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”  After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route (Mt. 2:1-2, 7-12)

They did follow a star, they came from the east, and there are three gifts mentioned in the story.  The writer of the song gets these elements correct.  Most of the rest of We Three Kings of Orient Are, however, is imagined.  A more realistic song title would be “We, Undisclosed Number of Astronomers of Possibly the Orient Are,” but that’s a little long and unwieldy.

We Three Kings of Orient Are begins with a focus on the long journey to Bethlehem.

We three kings of Orient are bearing gifts, we traverse afar.

Field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.

O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright.

Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.

The next three verses focus on the gifts given to the Christ child, and the reasoning for each gift.

Gold is said to be given because of the kingship of Jesus. 

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain, Gold I bring to crown him again King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.

Next, the writer says that frankincense was given to declare and to worship Christ as God.

Incense was very often used in temple worship throughout the First and Second Temple periods.

Frankincense to offer have I;

Incense owns a Deity nigh;

Prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high.

Myrrh has many uses, from embalming, to being used to make incense and anointing oils, to purification rituals. Myrrh often was used in burials as well, which is obviously the connection that the song writer is making in verse 4.

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom.

Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb.

The song writer closes by celebrating the resurrection. The “kings” in the story honor not only the kingship, Lordship, and death of Christ, but his resurrection as well.

Glorious now behold him arise;

Once again, the writer reminds us of the reason for each of the gifts:

King and God and sacrifice

Alleluia, Alleluia sounds through the earth and skies.

This song, while an imaginative exercise, is a reminder of the many elements of Christ and his life--his kingship, his Lordship, his death, and his resurrection.  Much like "What Child is This?," We Three Kings of Orient Are is an attempt to breathe new life into a well-known story by looking at it from a specific perspective.  We can argue over details of the story, but the message of Christ's kingship, Lordship, death, and resurrection are eternal and powerful.

What Child is This?

Twelve Songs of Christmas #11

What Child is This?

William Chatterson Dix was a poet in England in the 1800’s.  He wrote the words that we now sing to the tune of Greensleeves during the Christmas season.  Dix became ill, and in that time reflected often on God.  During this time Dix wrote a poem entitled “The Manger Throne.”  The poem became popular in the United States, and when it was coupled with the melody Greensleeves, it became an enormously popular song in both England and America.  Greensleeves was a popular folk song and drinking song since 1652, but not spiritual at all.  Once the words of "The Manger Throne" were sung with Greensleeves, however, it became one of the most popular Christmas songs in existence.

What Child is This? is interesting for its perspective of someone looking upon the Christ child, not knowing of his significance.

What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?

This is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste to bring him laud, the babe, the son of Mary.

Dix continues the perspective of an unknowing bystander in verse 2.

Why lies he in such mean estate where ox and ass are feeding?

“Why did these parents put their baby in a feeding trough?”  A good question.  I often think about how ‘ordinary’ the Christmas story has become for so many of us.  We attend Christmas plays and hear a narrator say “And she wrapped him in swaddling cloths and lay him in a manger.”  It’s sweet and brings a smile to everyone’s face.

If you were to come upon a woman putting her baby to sleep in a feeding trough, however, you’d probably want to alert the authorities.  It’s a surprising story that we’ve normalized simply by hearing it so often.  Looking at the Christmas story from an oblivious bystander’s perspective can help us to see once again just how crazy this story really was.

A professor said a few years ago that “if you want to see a Biblical story in a new way, put yourself in the shoes of one of the characters.  In this case, Dix has put himself in the shoes of an unaware bystander.

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here the silent Word is pleading.

Hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the son of Mary.

In much of the Wisdom Literature, the writers call the reader to “fear the Lord” (Proverbs 1:7, 8:13, 14:26, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Psalm 33:8, 25:14).  This Lord is present to sinners here in the manger. Fear the Lord who is before you: the Word made flesh.

He comes bringing salvation.  He comes as the King of Kings.  He comes for all: peasant and king alike.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh; come peasant, king, to own him.

The King of kings salvation brings.

Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Joy, for Christ is born. The babe, the son of Mary.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Twelve Songs of Christmas #10
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

It is thought that the song O Come, O Come, Emmanuel was written sometime in the ninth century.  The English translation came from John Mason Neale, an Anglican priest who was sent to minister in the Madeira Islands.  There he started an orphanage, a place of safety for prostitutes, and a school for girls.  O Come, O Come, Emmanuel would have spoken to him as a minister to the marginalized.

This is a theologically rich song, expressing the desire and need for a Messiah to ransom his people.  It begins with a call for God to free his people, using Israel to symbolize all who are awaiting freedom and ransom from captivity.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel, which mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear

In the book of Isaiah, king Ahaz of Judah is under pressure from two other kings. God speaks to Ahaz through the prophet Isaiah, telling Ahaz that a baby will be a sign that God is with him.  This baby will be called Immanuel (a Hebrew word meaning "God with us").

Many years later, an angel announces the birth of another baby who will show God's people that God is with them.  "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel." (Matthew 1:22-23).  This baby once again fulfills the prophet's words that God is with his people.

This opening verse is a cry to God to bring this Messiah.  It is a cry of desperation for the Saving One to appear in a world of captivity.

Verse two calls back to Isaiah 11, in which it is said that a shoot will come from the tribe of Jesse, the Spirit of the Lord would be upon him, and he would rescue and reclaim his people.

O come, thou rod of Jesse,
Free thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell, thy people save, and give them victory o'er the grave.

Verse 3 calls Immanuel to bring light in the darkness.  This calls back an image from Malachi 4:2, which says that for those who revere the name of God, the Sun of Righteousness will rise.

O come, o dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by thine advent here,
And drive away the shades of night
And pierce the clouds and bring the light

In Isaiah 22, God says that he will give a king the "key of the house of David."  Verse 4 connects this image to Jesus bringing the key to the kingdom of God.

O come, Thou Key of David come and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

The final verse reflects on God as the Lord who appeared in glory on Mount Sinai, and gave the law to the people.  This same God who gave the law and appeared in glory to Moses and the people is the God who came as a baby.  This is the God who declared that he was with the people through the birth of Jesus; Immanuel.

O come, thou wisdom from on high
Who in thy glorious majesty from Sinai's mountain, clothes in awe,
Gavest thy folk the elder law

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a cry for the God of the Old Testament to appear to his people.

This cry is met with celebration in the chorus, which proclaims that the Messiah, indeed, will come.  He will fulfill each of these prophecies, and will signify that God continues to be with his people.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Silent Night

Twelve Songs of Christmas #9
Silent Night

Written in 1818 by Joseph Mohr and Franz Xaver Gruber, Silent Night is one of the most well-known Christmas songs around today.  The version from Bing Crosby is one of the best selling singles of all time.  Musically, Silent Night is a simple folk-like song similar to many sung in Austria and Germany at the time it was written.

Silent Night begins much like O Little Town of Bethlehem--making note of the silence in Bethlehem as the Messiah was born.

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin mother and child; holy infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night
Shepherds quake at the sight

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'...When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about'" (Luke 2:8-12, 15).

Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia! Christ the Savior is born!

"Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'" (Luke 2:13-14).

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord at thy birth!

"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

In the midst of the silence, the Lord appeared to the world.  The world may have been asleep and missed the event, but the heavenly hosts celebrated, and began to spread the word of the coming Lord!

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Twelve Songs of Christmas #8
O Little Town of Bethlehem

O Little Town of Bethlehem was written by Phillips Brooks, who was the pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia.

Brooks had a heavy ministry.  He was pastor during the Civil War, and people continually were killed in the war.  All of Brooks' congregants knew people who were killed, and all were feeling the weight of the war as they entered the church each Sunday.

After the war, another weight was on the nation, as Lincoln was assassinated.

Brooks was asked to give the funeral message for Lincoln.

Shortly after, Brooks took a sabbatical to go to the Holy Land.  He needed some respite from the weight of his ministry.  While there, he borrowed a horse and rode on horseback on Dec. 24 toward Bethlehem. While in Bethlehem, he considered the birth of King born in such small surroundings.  This was a powerful moment for Brooks.

He said that the "experience was so overpowering it would forever be singing in my soul."

When he came back, he found that he couldn't adequately communicate this experience to his church from the pulpit.

Brooks wrote a poem, still trying to communicate his experience from Bethlehem.

His organist Lewis Redner tried to put this poem to a melody to communicate the experience in song.
O Little Town of Bethlehem has since become one of the most popular Christmas carols.

O Little Town of Bethlehem is a song depicting the birth of the Christ; specifically noting the quietness surrounding the birth.  While the incredible moment when God took on human flesh was occurring, people were asleep.  This miraculous event happened in a quiet, out-of-the-way town.

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 tonight!

Despite the silence of the night, the heavenly beings look upon this moment.

O morning stars together proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the king and peace to men on earth, For Christ is born of Mary
And, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

In verses 3 and 4, Brooks connects the silence of the birth to the fact that God cannot be heard by human ears.  Yet, in spite of the perceived silence of God, he is present and will enter into the hearts of those who call.

How silently, how silently the wonderous 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.

Where Children pure and happy pray to the blessed child; where misery cries out to thee, son of the mother mild; where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door, the dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more.

The song closes with a prayer that God will enter in to our hearts.

O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray. Cast out our sin and enter in: be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!


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Sources:
The New Oxford Book of Carols
Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas

O Holy Night

Twelve Songs of Christmas #7
O Holy Night

In 1847, Placide Cappeau was commissioned to write a Christmas poem by a parish priest for Christmas mass.  Cappeau was inspired while reading Gospel of Luke, and considered what it would be like to be present at this amazing moment in history.  In reflecting on the birth of Jesus, he wrote:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared 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! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, oh night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

The song became popular in France where it was written, but later was banned by the church, because Cappeau and composer Adolphe Adam were not Christians.

However, people in France continued to sing the song.  It remained popular despite this church-wide ban.

In 1855, John Sullivan Dwight translated the song into English.  The song became wildly popular in America and beyond.  It is said to be the first song played over the radio. 

Dwight was an abolitionist, and connected strongly with the commonly-sung second verse.  This verse supported his view of the problem of slavery in America (Collins, Ace, Stories Behind the Best Loved Songs of Christmas, 2004).

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Chains were broken when Christ was born.  His birth frees the enslaved and the oppressed.  It was not only an amazing event to behold when it happened over two millennia ago; it continues to be a life-altering event today.

O Come All Ye Faithful

Twelve Songs of Christmas #6
O Come All Ye Faithful

Today, we begin a 3-part series about Christmas songs beginning with "O."

O Come All Ye Faithful is a simple song calling people to look upon the Christ child.

O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant

Why joyful? Why triumphant?  The Messiah, the coming King, has arrived.  God has come in human flesh to save the world. As the final verse says, "Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing" (John 1:14).

O come ye, o come ye, to Bethlehem.  Come and behold him, born the king of angels.

He is king over even the angels.  This king is above all beings great and small; earthly and heavenly.

The majority of this song is simply a call for all beings, from angels to humans of all stature and class.  It is unclear where the song originated.  Manuscripts from Catholic scribe John Francis Wade contain the tune and verses 1, 2, 6, and 7 in Latin (The New Oxford Book of Carols, 242). These are the verses that are commonly sung in churches today.

I find another verse, verse 5, to be especially meaningful.

Child, for us sinners, poor and in the manger,
Fain we embrace thee with love and awe;
Who would not love thee, loving us so dearly?

We willingly embrace the Christ child in love and awe.  Why?  We embrace him and love him because he so loved us. 
Even those who are poor. 
Even those who are in the manger. 
Even those who are sinners.

God's love was shown through Jesus to the people to whom society or the religious hierarchy was not always kind.  The sermon on the mount begins with a show of love to the outsider.

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

In Jesus, God's love reached out to all people.  Sinners and saints, rich and poor.  This Christmas season, let us come and adore him; born the king of angels; now in flesh appearing; who loves us so dearly.