O Little Town of Bethlehem

*(See note at end of article.)

This is one of my most loved Christmas songs. There are so many I truly love, that I have no idea which one might be my favorite (but words mean things and there can only be one favorite.)

In 1868, Phillip Brooks, priest for the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, wanted a simple song for the children of his church to learn for their Christmas celebration. Having been to Bethlehem three years earlier, and with memories of that visit still fresh in his mind, it was almost predetermined that his new song would be centered around thoughts from that visit. Brooks turned his finished lyrics over to the church choirmaster, Lewis Redner, for a melody suitable for children. Redner struggled with the assignment for several days, but after an almost sleepless night quickly composed the melody the morning of the day the children were scheduled to learn the song.

Redner's tune for "O Little Town of Bethlehem," is known as St Louis. In 1906 R.V. Williams composed a different tune, known as Forest Green, for the song. If you sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem" in Ireland, England or Canada you will be singing to the tune of Forest Green. In the United States you will use St. Louis. I've never heard theirs, but ours is better.

Lyrics

1. 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.

2. For Christ is born of Mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering love.

O morning stars, together

Proclaim thy holy birth,

And praises sing to God the king,

And peace to men on earth.

3. How silently, how silently,

The wondrous Gift is giv'n;

So God imparts to human hearts

The blessings of His Heav'n.

No ear may hear His coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still

The dear Christ enters in.

4. Where children pure and happy

Pray [through] 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.

5. 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;

Oh , come to us, abide with us,

Our Lord Emmanuel.

The first verse paints a picture of this ancient nighttime sleeping village while unbeknownst to the citizens the most glorious, miraculous magnificent event with everlasting consequences is taking place. God Almighty, creator and master of the universe has sent his son to earth to dwell among us humans. "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Chills down your spine. Tears in your eyes. But so simple.

In verse two the earth sleeps, ignorant of what is happening and the grandeur of it. But the angels proclaim, sing praise and invite the lowly shepherds to attend.

In verse three as to Elijah of old, God uses the "still small voice" to give His gifts, and such a gift it is. " . . . In this dark world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in."

Verse four brings prayer, purity, happiness, childhood innocence, comfort and a loving father beckoning His prodigal children home as earth's dark night without a Savior ends and glory shines through the door that has been opened into Heaven by the arrival and sacrifice of God's dear son.

Finally, it is a great condescension for God to descend to us and answer our prayers. I'm not sure which is greater, God's condescension, or our presumption to ask for that favor from Him. But He is the only one who can cast out our sins. I see the call for faith (vs 4), repentance (where meek souls will receive Him still), confession (the wondrous Gift is given. So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heaven), and baptism (cast out our sin and enter in. Be born in us today - death of the old sinful self and burial of same, and a birth of a new life of us in Christ and Christ in us. Rom. 6:3-4.) Then we have God abiding with us. Emmanuel - God with us.

There is one version that to me stands out above all others. It is so hauntingly simple, matching the words and melody, that it just draws me into the old city of Bethlehem as an unseen observer, and all the thoughts I've expressed above become vivid to me. I'm speaking of the arrangement done by Sarah McLachlan on her Wintersong album.

My primary purpose in this blog is to promote uplifting thoughts by highlighting a Christmas song that contains uplifting thoughts and has an uplifting message (not to promote or even publicize music.) 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' is such a song. However, in my opinion, the arrangement offered by Sarah McLachlan is the one that accomplishes those purposes better than any other. I find it spellbinding.

I won't link to it here, but if you go to my Trying to Walk Facebook page you can find a link there. Maybe you'll like it too.

• For this and the remaining Mondays in December, Trying to Walk will review a worthy Christmas song each week (looking for an uplifting and encouraging message.) I hope this is a feature everyone will like, but if not, know that starting in January we'll be back to our normal format. (I appreciate your support.)