The Zone Gathering

For our third carol, let’s examine the Scriptural truth presented in “O Holy Night.” The lyrics for this song were written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847 and translated into English by John Sullivan Dwight.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23)
Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth
Our soul has worth because we are made in the image of God, who sent His Son Jesus in human form, to identify with and help us.
“Behold. God is my helper; the Lord is the sustainer of my soul.” (Ps. 54:4)
“For Thy lovingkindness toward me is great, and Thou has delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.” (Ps. 86:13)
“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul…” (Ps. 19:7a)
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
“…of Jesus Christ, who is our hope” (1 Tim. 1:1)
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (Isa. 60:1)
“because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our fear into the path of peace” (Luke 1:78-79)
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, o night when Christ was born
O night, divine, o night, o night divine.

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming
“I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:4, 9)
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of the star sweely gleaming
Here came the wise men from the Orient land.
The story of the wise men follwoing the star is found in Matthew 2.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
“I charge you…that you keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which He will bring about at the proper time–He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:13-15)
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14)
In all our sorrows born to be our friend
Jesus responds to the charges of the Pharisees, whom He quoted as saying He was a friend of sinners: “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking; and you say, ‘Behold a gluttonous man, and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!’” (Luke 7:34). In reality, though, Jesus is the friend of sinners!
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger
This lyric affirms why God sent Jesus to us in human form - He has been here. He knows what we need and the weaknesses we possess.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend.
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend.
“Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11)

Truly He taught us to love one another
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:12-13)
“This is my command: Love each other.” (John 15:17)
“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…” (1 Thess. 3:12)
His law is love, and His gospel is peace
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matt. 22:37-40)
“and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15; part of the armor of God)
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
“Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:1-2)
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.” (Isa. 61:1)
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
“O Lord, Thou hast seen my oppression…” (Lam 3:59)
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” (Ps. 103:1)
“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders. I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High.” (Ps. 9:2)
“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord!” (Ps. 135:1)
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.’” (Luke 2:10-11)
His power and glory every more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
“Worthy art Thou, our Lod and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)
“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17)
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:25)

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 9:00 am and is filed under Bible Drills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.