![]() Take the time to think about the message of the songs and what they mean.Īs you sing carols this Christmas, take the time to think about the message of the songs and what they mean. The songs that many Americans, Christian or not, have on their lips and in their heads during this season are ripe with the message of the Gospel. This time of the year, our entire culture stops what it is doing and is compelled to turn its gaze toward a baby in a manger, a newborn King. This famed carol is loaded with rich theology. The final stanza tells of the accomplishment of Christ and the power that it brings.įor well over two hundred years, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” has been a Gospel-saturated anthem pointing people to the Savior. Therefore, all the nations should rise and sing and proclaim the good news, which is Christ the King! The next stanza speaks to the mysticism of Christ’s coming and the good news in it. God has sent the One who will reconcile the sinner back to Himself. ![]() The first stanza describes the good news of the savior’s birth. The Theology Behind: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” ![]() It was Whitefield who penned the phrase “newborn King.” In 1753, George Whitefield, a student and eventual colleague of Wesley’s, adapted the poem into the song we now know today. The poem first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739 with the opening line of “Hark, how the welkin (heaven) rings.” Wesley, inspired by the sounds of London church bells while walking to church on Christmas Day, wrote the “Hark” poem about a year after his conversion to be read on Christmas Day. Some have noted that Methodism was born in song and Charles was the chief songwriter. His brother, John Wesley, a famous theologian and founder of Methodism, said that Charles’ hymnal was the best theological book in existence. His goal in writing hymns was to teach the poor and illiterate sound doctrine. Wesley wrote over 6,000 hymns, more than any other male writer (Fanny Crosby wrote 8,000). It was written by Charles Wesley, who was an English Methodist leader and hymn writer. Many of the carols we sing have a rich theological tradition, and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!” is no exception. The History Behind: “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” ![]() I watched as everyone proclaimed in perfectly crafted theology the message of the Gospel! As I looked around the concert hall, I wondered if those who were singing had ever given pause to what they were saying. The further we got into the song, the more I began to get distracted from my singing (which I am sure was a relief to those sitting around me!) as the message of the song began to resonate in my soul. Recently, I attended an incredible performance by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, which was dedicated to the music of Christmas.Īs the program came to a close, the conductor asked the audience to join the musicians and sing a few lines of some of the most well-known Christmas carols, including several verses of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”Īs we in the audience belted out the nostalgic tune, I read the words on the back of the program, trying to make sure I was singing it all correctly. The same songs, year after year, get stuck in our heads and we can often recite the words without even thinking about it. One of the things that makes Christmas such a memorable time of year is the music. ![]()
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