Hymn: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Seize the Moment – Day 1383

Today’s song focus will be

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

 

Luke 2:14-15 (NASB95)         

 

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He

is pleased.”   When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds

began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see

this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.”

 
Written by Edmund Sears in 1849, it is one of the only Christmas hymns that does not mention the birth of Jesus or the holy family, but rather upon the message of the angels. He penned the lyrics during a time of personal struggle with all the darkness in the world. The message of peace as proclaimed by the angels was one he was trying to make relevant for the current times in which he lived. Sung to a tune called “Noel”, it was adapted by Arthur Sullivan from an English melody in 1874.

 

“It came upon a midnight clear, That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold:”     

 

We need to wake up and take the message of peace into our area of the world that needs to either hear it for the first time or be reminded of it. Remember, each of us are to be the messengers of the gospel, just like those shepherds who heard it from the angels on that night so long ago.

 

 

YOUTUBE:

If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.

 
 
 

If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:

 
 
 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

 
1
It came upon the midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“Peace on the earth, good will to men,
from heaven’s all-gracious King.”
The world in solemn stillness lay,
to hear the angels sing.
 
2
Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly music floats
o’er all the weary world;
above its sad and lowly plains,
they bend on hovering wing,
and ever o’er its Babel sounds
the blessed angels sing.
 
3
And ye, beneath life’s crushing load,
whose forms are bending low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow,
look now! for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road,
and hear the angels sing!
 
4
For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophet seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold
when peace shall over all the earth
its ancient splendors fling,
and the whole world send back the song
which now the angels sing.
 
 
 

 


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