I have heard this song sung by devout Christians who embrace the song with strong emotion. I have heard the song sung on Stormfront Radio and I know many White Nationalist who love the song - O Holy Night!
The first verse is especially inspiring.
Oh holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear'd 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 angels' voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine
I know I always get a chill as the words, "Faaaaaaall on your Kneeeeeees" are sung and I think that same chill invades the heart and soul of most people.
The words of the song were written in 1847 by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure who was the commissionaire of wines in a small French town and was locally well known for this ability to write poetry. A local priest, knowing of his poetic genius approached him to write a poem for the upcoming Christmas celebration. Placide was somewhat surprised at the request because he seldom attended church. But he did feel honored at the request and it is said that he composed the poem while traveling, by coach, down a dusty bumpy road to Paris.
Placide Cappeau took with him the gospel of Luke and read it thoroughly and imagined himself as a witness to the birth of Christ and the feelings that would have traveled through those who were there as the angels sang out their praise. By the time he arrived in Paris, the inspired words "Cantique de Noel" (O Holy Night) were complete.
Cappeau immediately knew that his poem was more than a poem that it wasn’t complete until it was put to music. But he was not a music composer and could not give this song the justice that it needed. He immediately contacted his friend, Adolphe Charles Adams, for help. Adams was a well-known classical musician, Adams had studied in the Paris conservatoire. His talent and fame brought requests to write works for orchestras and ballets all over the world - from London to St. Petersburg.
Adams quickly went to work to unite an original score to Cappeau’s beautiful words into a single inspired expression of faith and hope. Adams’ finished work pleased both poet and priest. The song was performed just three weeks later at a Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.
So today we have a song loved throughout the Christian world. A song that lifts high the glorious name of Jesus Christ as the song says, the birth of Christ brought forth a "new and glorious morn."
Now here is what you may not know about this beloved Christmas song. The author of O Holy Night was a socialist revolutionary that personally rejected the atonement we as Christian discover in the blood of Jesus Christ. He was a free thinking radial that was active in the revolutionary activities of France.
And the famous music composer, Adolphe Charles Adams, was Jewish who did not accept the Christian claim that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.
And so one of the most beloved Christmas songs was a joint composition of an non-Christian revolutionary and a Christ rejecting music composer of Jewish ancestry.
Now some of you are going to be disappointed and perhaps even a little depressed. You may never again listen to the song in quite the same manner.
But before you allow depression over the matter to get the best of you I want you to consider Isa 45:23 and Romans 14:11.
Isaiah 45:21-24 - ". . . there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. 22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength:
Rom 14:11 - "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God."
God’s power is total and complete. There is a word that can be associated with the power of God and the word is "trenchant." The word trenchant means powerful, cutting, and among other definitions - vigorously effective. God’s power is effective. It will accomplish its purpose. We are told in scripture, "God’s word shall not return void." In other words it will accomplish its purpose. A trenchant command from God cannot be denied - it cannot be disobeyed!
Isaiah and Paul in Romans tells us that unto Christ "Every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess." That my friend is power - that is a trenchant command. Even those that hate the Lord - even those who fight against his power, authority and glory must praise his name.
When you hear that beautiful Christmas song - O Holy Night, don’t dwell on its non-Christian author and its Jewish composer. But instead think about the power of God who is able to go into the depths of man and bring forth praise.
Today the Jewish composer and the non-Christian author are known for nothing else. God can, at his will, cause even the rocks of the earth to burst forth in praise, Luke 19:38-40. So don’t marvel that a non-believing Jew and a non-believing revolutionary socialist produced one of the greatest and most loved Christmas songs. It should actually give the song greater depth and meaning. It demonstrates the power of God, for he will bring forth praise from what ever and who ever he chooses. All creation is subject to his will.
More than a song written by a Christian - this song both praises the Lord and at the same time is a living demonstration of his power over the lives and souls of man.
Yes, it was a holy night for . . .
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appear'd 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 angels' voices!
Oh night divine, Oh night when Christ was born;
Oh night divine, Oh night, Oh night Divine
God can bring forth praise from any who he chooses and they cannot refuse his power. Philippians 2:9 - "That at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord."
If anyone should attempt to taunt you about your most beloved Christmas song being written by an atheist and a Jew just remind them of the power of your God - everyone must praise his name - everyone!
MERRY
CHRISTMAS!
2 comments:
You are good Pastor!
AKIA 33/6
you're an idiot, and a bigoted one at that
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