Worship Devotional IV
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 12/13/2019.
Weekly Worship Devotional
This week we are reflecting on the hope that was given when Christ was born. We have many reasons to be full of hope as God's people. The Christmas story reminds us over and over again that Jesus is our hope as we read and sing about the Light of the world coming into our darkness, or the prophecies being fulfilled by Him at His birth and then throughout His life, or how He brought deliverance to His people from the guilt of sin and the punishment of death.
As we sing these Christmas songs, let's be careful not to let the depth of their meaning pass us by. It's easy to sing what we are used to without really thinking about what the words mean. A lot of the Christmas carols we are familiar with contain profound theology and tell the story of the Gospel beautifully. Let's meditate on the words we sing and let the gospel meaning behind the lyrics saturate our hearts and minds.
Here are this week's songs:
1) The First Noel
This traditional English Christmas carol tells the story of the first Noel (Christmas) in five verses, highlighting the angel's appearance to the shepherds (v. 1), and then the wise men who followed the star (vv. 2 & 3) and presented gifts (vv. 4 & 5). The chorus repeats "Noel" and then proclaims the message of the story and song: "Born is the King of Israel."
2) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
The next song is another well-known carol, written by Charles Wesley in the 1700s. This song invites us to join the angels in joyful singing, saying hark! (listen!) as the angels announce the birth of the Messiah (see Luke 2:8-14). Verse 1 invites us to join the angels as they rejoice with singing over the arrival of the One who would reconcile God and sinners; verse 2 talks about the incarnation of the triune Godhead—how God took on human flesh (i.e. became a Man born of a woman) to dwell with us as Immanuel; and verse 3 expresses the purpose of the Messiah's birth—to bring light, healing, regeneration, resurrection, and eternal life to mankind.
3) Hope Was Born This Night by Sidewalk Prophets
The reason we praise God with the heavenly host in Luke 2:8-14 — singing, "Glory to God in the highest / Peace on earth, good will toward men" — is because the birth of the Messiah was both the fulfillment of and the birth of true hope. The hope we have in Jesus is true and eternal. It will never fail and is sure to be fulfilled because it is based on the promises of God, who is always faithful and true. This song is written as if we were present on the night we celebrate during the Christmas season—the night Christ was born.
4) Emmanuel (Hallowed Manger Ground) by Chris Tomlin
We know that the Lord's name, Emmanuel, means "God with us." This song is an opportunity for us to reflect on what that really means and rejoice that God—who is holy, righteous, just, true, eternal, and sovereign—would make a way for sinners like us to be forgiven, redeemed, and given eternal life. Verse 2 mentions "the silent age." This refers to the period of time between when the book of Malachi (the last book of the Old Testament) was written and when Jesus was born. This period of time lasted approximately 400 years and is called "the silent age" because of this gap in Scripture, where God appears to have been "silent." This song expresses the joy that comes from the idea that the "silent age" was broken by a Baby's cry that Christmas night.
Here are some Scripture verses to go with these songs:
Isaiah 7:13-14, 9:6-7, & 60:1-6
Micah 5:2-4, Malachi 4:2
Matthew 1:18-24 & 2:1-12
Luke 1 & 2:1-40 (esp. 1:26-55 & 2:8-20)
Let us remember this week to thank and praise God for the eternal hope we have in Him through Jesus Christ. Whatever hardships and trials we are going through, there is always hope because of what God did when He sent His Son to save us. Whether we are struggling spiritually, emotionally, financially, with sin, with death and loss, or with whatever else we must face in this world, we can still find comfort and joy in the truth of the gospel. God is faithful, and He will bring those who trust Him through their hardships into eternal life and peace. May we all gather for church on Sunday ready to sing and shout for joy because He was born, He came, and He fulfills His promises.