Continuing our meditation on “Silent Night”–
Silent, holy night?
Consider John’s view of holy:
Revelation 4:5,8 (CEV)
Flashes of lightning and roars of thunder came out from the throne in the center of the circle. . . Day and night they never stopped singing, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.”
I’m guessing that heaven was far from silent at the birth of the holy infant.
It’s Advent. A season of preparation. A season of meditation. A season of serious thought.
I’m continuing with the theme of carols–those seasonal songs that play in the background everywhere. Words that float below our consciousness. My goal is to make you think about the words. To meditate. Seriously.
This week’s carol is that old favorite, Silent Night. Don’t get me wrong–I truly like this one. But, really!
Silent night?
With Bethlehem filled to over-flowing, a woman in labor and that sky-bursting angelic host? I don’t think so.
God and noise. Perfect together.
“It would be out of character for the Father
to call you to do something
then not help you accomplish it.
He always gets involved.”
Dr. Charles Stanley
God involved, God with us, Emmanuel. 
Come, Emmanuel.
Come, God-with-us.
With all of us–all believers round the world.
Come, God-with-me.
With me.
Come, sing your way through the Bible.
“O Come, Emmanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)
Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
“O Come, thou Rod of Jesse.”
Isaiah 11:1
And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
“O Come, O Dayspring.”
Luke 1:78
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us.
“O Come, Thou Key of David.”
Revelation 3:7
These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.
“O come, Adonai, Lord of might.”
Psalm 38:22
Make haste to help me, O Lord [Adonai] my salvation.
It’s Advent.
Christmas is coming–
Ah yes, the music of Christmas. Let’s start with O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
This carol dates back more than a thousand years, written by some unknown monk, someone who understood both the Old and New Testaments. It explains how Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies of the Messiah.
Emmanuel means God with us. God-in-the-Tabernacle with the Israelites, God-in-the-manger at Christmas, God-on-the-cross at Easter, God-in-our-hearts today.
“O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here.”
Cheered by Advent. So be it, amen.
I’m thankful for color:
It’s a bright and beautiful world!
Matthew 5:44-45 (NIV)
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Thank you, Lord, for
the people I love,
the people I like,
the people I don’t like, and
the people who don’t like me.
Bless them, each and every one.
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Blaise Pascal lived just 39 years, from 1623 to 1662–a brilliant young mathematician, inventor and Christian author. He was wise beyond his years and his era.
“Instead of complaining that God had hidden himself,
you will give Him thanks for having revealed so much of Himself.”
For God’s goodness revealed at our Thanksgiving tables . . . let us give thanks.
