Question of the Week: Christmas Songs

It's been a while since I last posted a question of the week. But with Christmas fast approaching, I thought I would try to blog a little more. So this week's question is simple:

Which traditional christmas songs (think carols/hymns) are your favorites? Do you have one song that is 'more' special than another?

My answer: My favorite, favorite Christmas song is Hark The Harold Angels Sing.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn 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 newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n 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 newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n 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 newborn King!"

I love the "born that man no more may die/born to raise the sons of earth/born to give them second birth" bit. I think this hymn is just so theologically sound, so complete in its message of who God is and why we should be celebrating Christmas in the first place.

I really started appreciating this hymn after I heard a sermon series on it by Charles Betters. Part A. Part B. Part C. Since then, I've tried to make a point of listening each year to this sermon series.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible