Sunday Song Lyrics, Christmas Edition: O Holy Night

The Album:

This is one of many album's by this title.  

While I do like Sarah Groves, I really picked it for the picture.

The Lyrics:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

O night, O Holy 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! Then ever, ever praise we,

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Click here for a clip of seven-year-old Rhema Marvanne singing this song.  I'd never heard of her before I searched out a link for this post.  I confess it isn't my favorite performance, but the she is just adorable.

Andrea's Take:

This has long been a favorite carol of mine.  The beautiful sweeping melody is the perfect frame for the moving lyrics. I love for a Christmas song not only to focus on Jesus's birth, but also to remind us of  His greater purpose in coming to earth that long ago night.

As is common for me, my favorite lyrics are in the second verse (a verse often neglected in the performance of Christmas music).

Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother. 
And in his name all oppression shall cease. 

Peter tells us that "God is no respecter of persons." These lines embody that truth for me.