Sing to the Lord a new song.
– Psalm 96:1
Carols are a staple of the Christmas season, and I’m sure everyone will be singing at least a couple today. They can be an effective way to help prepare us for the mystery we celebrate at Christmas. The classics are almost too many to count (I’m partial to God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen myself), but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for originality. In Psalm 96, King David exhorts his listeners to sing a new song to the Lord. Regardless of our level of skill, there is a value to praising God in our own words. We might not be able to come up with the next Silent Night, but we can learn a lot about God by trying to put words to our personal praise. Here’s my stab at a new carol for your enjoyment and edification (sing to the tune of What Star is This):
See how the daylight softly fades
Behold the night’s encroaching shade
When dawn once more awakes the morn
Will Jesus Christ, our Lord, be born!
The Child who is both God and man
The deep dividing chasm spans
For us who in such piteous state
Now for his coming patient wait
For by our sin we were bound tight
When God had mercy on our plight
And sent to us a remedy:
His only Son to set us free
All laud as he descends his throne
And comes to make our flesh his own
That this great gift of God be giv’n
Allowing man to hope for heav’n
And when he comes again as king
To him let sweet hosannas ring
While trusting in his wondrous love
To make us fit for heav’n above
✠
