“O Holy Night” is one of the most theologically rich and heart-stirring Christmas carols ever written. The lyrics and music work together to evoke a deep sense of humble gratitude and reverent awe of our Savior, who took on human flesh and came to rescue a sin-sick world from the power of sin and death.
The song was originally a poem titled ‘Minuit, Chrétians’ (‘Midnight, Christians’) written by French wine merchant and poet, Placide Cappeau. A local priest requested the poem for a Christmas Eve celebration of the newly renovated church organ in Cappeau’s hometown of Roquemaure. Cappeu’s poem was put to music by Adolphe Adam, a composer who wrote mostly operas and ballets. (The ballet Giselle and ‘O Holy Night’ are two of Adam’s most well-known compositions.) The new song was released as ‘Cantique de Noël’ and was first performed by opera singer Emily Laurey at the Roquemaure Church on Christmas Eve in 1847.
In 1855, America’s first music critic (and passionate abolitionist) John Sullivan Dwight encountered ‘Cantique de Noël’ while searching for material to review in his periodical Dwight’s Journal of Music. Dwight translated the lyrics from French to English and ‘O Holy Night’ quickly became a favorite in America.
I imagine if this song had been written early in the first century, it might have been a favorite of the Apostle Paul. Paul's writings clearly teach the sinfulness of all mankind and the necessity of the gospel for all (Rom. 3:10-24). He also emphasizes the unity and brotherly love among believers that should result from being transformed by the Holy Spirit (Col. 3:12-14, Gal. 3:28, 1 Cor. 1:10). These are both themes captured in the lyrics of 'O Holy Night.' Perhaps Paul and Silas would have included it in the hymns they sang in the Philippian jail as all the prisoners listened! (Acts 16:25)
In his letter to Philemon, Paul explains that Onesimus, a slave who had fled from Philemon, had met Paul while he was in prison and had become a Christian. Paul appealed to Philemon to accept Onesimus back into his household, but as a brother in the Lord rather than as a slave. Paul saw God’s sovereignty behind the events that led to Onesimus’ conversion and transformation, and was requesting Philemon to treat Onesimus with the same brotherly love and respect as he did Paul:
“For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.” Philemon 15-17
Paul’s letter to Philemon, as well as the third verse of 'O Holy Night,' are about reconciliation and transformed relationships among Christians. But this reconciliation would be meaningless were it not for the reconciliation between God and man made possible only through the Incarnation of Christ. That is what makes this song so rich and relevant. It tells the story of a holy Savior leaving his glorious state to come as a babe into a sinful world. It exhorts us recognize the weight and worth of this blessed event and instructs us to have a right response: Fall on your knees! Behold your King! Praise His name forever!
O Holy Night
O holy night, the starts are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth;
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
‘Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Chorus
Fall on your knees, Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine.
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming;
With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand.
So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our friend;
Chorus
He knows our need, To our weakness is no stranger!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Your King! Before him bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is Love and His gospel is Peace;
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother,
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise his Holy name!
Chorus
Christ is the Lord, O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory, evermore proclaim!
During this Advent and Christmas season, take time to reflect on God's greatest gift to us, His only Son who was born to die, in order to set us free and give us eternal life!
I invite you to enjoy listening to the first and third verses of 'O Holy Night' performed by Fountainview Academy, a Christian high school in British Columbia, Canada.
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