There will be no Gleanings over the next few days. We’ll return on December 27th. There are hundreds of back issues on our website https://gleaningsfromtheword.com if you want a devotional during that time.
One of my favorite Christmas Carols is “Silent Night.”
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,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from heaven afar;
Heavenly hosts sing Al-le-lu-ia!
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
Silent night, holy night!
Wondrous star, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Christ the Savior is here,
Jesus the Savior is here!
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;
Jesus Lord at thy birth.
It’s beautifully simple, a classic favorite. The tune portrays a serene, quiet scene on the night of Jesus’ birth.
The problem is that night would have been anything but quiet. Here’s what the Bible has to say…
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn Luke 2:4-7 ESV
Mary gives birth, something that doesn’t happen quietly. The child is laid in a manger, so there were animals, most of whom would likely have been disturbed by what was going on around them. Again, highly unlikely to be quiet.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:8-12 ESV
That caused the shepherds to fear, and likely the sheep as well. Once again, no quiet.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:13-20 ESV
The heavenly host appears, speaking into the night. The heaven’s rejoiced
The shepherds excitedly go into town to see the child and tell everyone what they saw. The shepherds may have even taken their flocks with them (the Bible doesn’t tell us what they did with them). If so, the noise and commotion would have been even greater.
The community would have been abuzz with excitement. The heaven’s rejoiced
A holy night? Absolutely.
Christ the Savior is born? Without question.
Something to celebrate? Unquestionable so.
Silent? Maybe for a moment here and there, but mostly, not.
Let’s celebrate the King’s coming with singing and praise like the shepherds, angels, and heavenly host.
Merry Christmas to you all. May the Lord bless you afresh with an understanding of His incarnation and great love for you.
Praise God for His love gift.
Be blessed,
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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