O Holy Night… every time I hear this sweet Christmas Carol, I stop and listen… I NEVER tire of the rich words. The lines “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth” have me thinking.
As I look at the book of Genesis I realize that it isn’t but a few pages into the story, three to be exact, in chapter 3 that “The Fall” happens. The next several thousand years are represented in one line of this song, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining”. Pining, according to my Websters New Collegiate Dictionary 1977 edition, means to lose vigor, health or flesh, to languish or yearn intensely and persistently for something unattainable. But then, on that O so Holy Night He (Jesus) appeared and our souls suddenly felt their worth. Are you yearning intensely and persistently for something unattainable?
O Holy Night. Jesus appeared to give worth to our souls. Until then it was up to the flesh to perfectly obey the law. The Old Testament is filled with stories of people that pined away in sin and error… some had less sin and error, some had more, all failed, most failed miserably at one time or another. Not much has changed in the flesh department has it? However, the soul is a different story! The soul felt its worth. Back up to the line that says “It is the night of our Dear SAVIORS birth”! The SAVIOR… the one thing that was unattainable for man is completely attainable for God… to save the soul! Now that’s feeling worth, or better yet, feeling worthy! Not because of the value we have, but the value He gives us. Not because of anything we did but because of everything God did. He so Loved the world that He gave His only Son… so whoever BELIEVES in Him will be Saved. O HOLY NIGHT!
I hope you can take a moment today, or tomorrow, to pause…. and listen …. to the powerful words of this beautiful song.
O Holy Night
O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
‘Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night when Christ was born
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains He shall 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
Christ is the Lord!
Their name forever praise we
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O night divine
Noel, Noel
O night, O holy night