Carols of Christmas Past - It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Carols of Christmas Past

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

            Some of my most cherished childhood and teenage memories center around the Christmas season. The Christmas music, whether listening, singing or playing instruments, all of it warmed my heart and brought me much joy.

And, it still does today.

            One of the timeless carols of Christmas past is It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. Verse one melodically expresses how God’s miracle was proclaimed to the simplest of people. Lowly shepherds doing what they do every night—keeping watch over their flock under the stars.

Not one of them had a clue that Isaiah’s prophecy of old was being fulfilled in the little town of Bethlehem inside a humble stable. There, the Shepherd of all shepherds was inhaling His first human breath. Maybe this was the reason the shepherds were the first to receive God’s formal birth announcement, delivered and declared by an angel of the Lord. “Fear not,’ he said, “for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11) The angel told them how they would find the child and then a multitude of the heavenly host appeared and broke the darkness with praise. No one, “How much did he weigh?”, or “How long was he?” They didn’t even ask His name. The glorious announcement was enough to affirm that the long-awaited Messiah had come. The shepherds were so stirred that they hurried off to see for themselves.

The words to this centuries old hymn were penned in the 1800s by Edmund H. Sears during the dark days following America’s war with Mexico. His poem was set to music by Richard Storrs Willis sometime later. I’m intrigued as to how seamlessly the poet moves from Jesus’ birth announcement to the time when every knee will bow before the Prince of Peace. “When the whole world gives back the song which now the angels sing.” Until then, the poet begs us to “hush the noise” and “hear the angels sing.” What a timely message from a timeless carol.

SCRIPTURE READING

Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 2:8-18

Prepare Him Room

What is producing noise in your life? What is hindering your hearing of the good news of Jesus? Find your favorite arrangement of this carol, play it, and pay close attention to the words. Jot down some ideas for how you and your family might “hush the noise” this Christmas season so you can be intentional with giving praise to God for giving us His Son, just like the angels did that first Christmas night.

It came upon the midnight clear, 
that glorious song of old, 
from angels bending near the earth 
to touch their harps of gold: 
"Peace on the earth, good will to men, 
from heaven's all-gracious King." 
The world in solemn stillness lay, 
to hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come 
with peaceful wings unfurled, 
and still their heavenly music floats 
o'er all the weary world; 
above its sad and lowly plains, 
they bend on hovering wing, 
and ever o'er its Babel sounds 
the blessed angels sing.

Yet with the woes of sin and strife

The world has suffered long,

Beneath the angel strain have rolled

Two thousand years of wrong;

And man at war with man, hears not

The love song which they bring;

O hush the noise, ye men of strife,

And hear the angels sing.

And ye, beneath life's crushing load, 
whose forms are bending low, 
who toil along the climbing way 
with painful steps and slow, 
look now! for glad and golden hours 
come swiftly on the wing. 
O rest beside the weary road, 
and hear the angels sing!

For lo! the days are hastening on, 
by prophet seen of old, 
when with the ever-circling years 
shall come the time foretold 
when peace shall over all the earth 
its ancient splendors fling, 
and the whole world send back the song 
which now the angels sing.