Church Music: Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Another favorite bit of doctrinal church music is the Christmas hymn "Hark the Herald Angels  Sing."  Being one of those people who listens to Christmas carols anytime between December 1 and September 30, the hymns is a constant reminder of the miracle of the Incarnation.

Charles Wesley published the original words to the hymn in 1739 in a series of 10 stanzas of 4 lines each.  Wesley paired with the words with a stately melody, reflecting the hymn's weighty doctrinal content.  After Wesley's death, George Whitefield altered the language and structure of the stanzas into the form we know today.  He also matched the words with today's familiar melody which he borrowed from a cantata by Felix Mendelssohn.

Compared to other songs, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" has undergone significant revision, but it still expresses the truth of Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, inseparably united in one Person forever.

Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King,
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic host proclaim,
'Christ is born in Bethlehem.'
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
hail, the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace:
hail, the Sun of Righteousness.
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
born that man no more may die,
born to raise the sons of earth,
born to give them second birth.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
fix in us thy humble home;
rise, the woman's conquering seed,
bruise in us the serpent's head;
Adam's likeness now efface
stamp Thine image in its place.
Second Adam from above
reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark, the herald-angels sing
glory to the new-born King.

And, tipping my hat to the carol's British origin, here's a fine performance in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, UK.  (Although, I think it would be uncomfortable to wear one of those white collars, don't you?)

 

Does Greek Give You "Special Knowledge"?

Last weekend, I was sitting at a coffee bar with some friends in a small coffee house in South Dakota.  The owner of the shop asked me what I was doing with my life, and I told him I was working on my masters' degree in biblical languages.  When he heard this, he answered that he he had a friend who studied biblical languages.  "Does studying Greek and Hebrew give you new insight into what the Bible means?" he asked.

It's an interesting question.  Most of the Greek and Hebrew students I know, myself I included, study the languages to help them study the Bible better.  We get pretty excited when we study I John and discover that the present tense is continuous action.  Some of us are thrilled to build an outline out of Greek adverbial markers.  And don't even get us started on the difference between the two primary words for knowledge in the New Testament...!

But does knowing Greek give us any special knowledge (pardon the gnostic reference:)?  "No," I told the man.  "It's kind of like looking at a picture in black and white or color.  There isn't anything added to the picture when you see it in color, but you can see the details better.  You don't need to know Greek to know what the Bible really says.  It says the same thing in Greek that it does in English."

Knowing Greek is a great benefit, but the knowledge of God which gives us everything necessary for live and godliness is available through our accurate English translations.  Why?  Because it is not ultimately us or our accurate translation that causes us to understand the Bible.  It is God's Holy Spirit.

"But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.  None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But as it is written, 'What eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him" - these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.  For the Spirit searches everything even the depths of God....Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God." - 1 Corinthians 2:7-12

The Summer of Weddings

Labor Day indicates the end of the Summer of Weddings, at the beginning of which, I counted ten couples I knew who were getting married.  So here's a post to congratulation them and wish them God's blessings!

Rohn and Bekah

Bekah and I met in sixth grade at VBS, and Rohn and I got to know each other on a CEF missions trip to Boston after a year of having lots of mutual friends.  It's a pleasure to call them CBC neighbors, visit their apartment in Philly Hall, and offer small tips on fighting roaches.  If I do say so myself, my sister Bethany did an excellent job as bridesmaid/train-bearer!  It was a pleasure to play the piano for two such good friends.

Andrew and Renae

Renae and I work together - she taught me everything I know about recruiting students.  It's fun to see Andrew drop into the admissions department a bit more regularly than he used to - and it has nothing to do with registering for classes!  Their marriage ceremony was Christ-centered, highlighting the relationship between Christ and His Church.  My job was to keep the food table full stocked with crackers, cheese, and hummus.

Brent and Elizabeth

Elizabeth and I met at a piano recital in elementary school, and we've been friends since!  It was a pleasure to work with her as her wedding coordinator. The wedding was a lot of fun, from decorating tables for five hundred guests to laughing with the ushers at the back of the auditorium about unity candles.  God's work in Brent and Elizabeth's relationship was a joy to watch.  And, again, my sweet sister was an excellent bridesmaid/mirror-holder.

Alex and Kara

Alex and I attended college together in South Dakota, and after he transferred to Calvary, word came back that he had a girlfriend and she was wonderful.  Reports about Kara were not exaggerated!  Getting to know her through dorm life and church activities has been delightful.  Alex and Kara are very intentional about reaching out and caring for the people God has placed around them.  And since wedding pictures are still coming, here's the happy couple before they were married.

Graham and Jenna

 Graham and Jenna are both great friends from college in South Dakota.  Celebrating their marriage was a mixture of many happy bits, including great music at the ceremony, iced coffee at the reception in the park, a sermon-toast from Mr. G, and, certainly not least, a couple rejoicing in God's sovereign work in their lives.  The ceremony was happily documented by our great friend Clara.  The reception and subsequent after-party were so full of reunions of old friends that we didn't tear ourselves away until 2 in the morning!  FYI, being guest book attendant is one of the greatest jobs in a wedding!

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate." - Matthew 19:6