O Holy Night and Silent Night
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Silent Night is a song that draws me into worship on Christmas. It paints the Christmas picture. You can close your eyes and see the stable. Over there is a cow. There's a sheep. There's a young mother holding her newborn baby. There's the father with a glassy look in his eyes wondering if he is up to the task. Close your eyes and hear the heavenly voices of the angels mixed with the low and rough worship of the shepherds. The animals joining in. The murmuring of people. See the star shining bright--a beacon for the world to see. This was a night when the world paused and began anew.
O Holy Night might be my favorite Christmas song. It speaks of the world being held captive and yearning for rescue and on this night, the Rescuer showed up. Not just for the Hebrew people. Not just for Christ followers today, but for the world. And the world rejoiced. It speaks of the God in the straw, the king in the manger who will be our friend and our savior. It speaks of the law of love and how we can now have peace. It calls me to worship, to humility and to God.
What a picture this song paints. A multicolored God who breaks chains and unites. In his name, all oppression will cease. I could go on a rant about what people do in his name that has nothing to do with oppression ceasing, but it's Christmas time so I won't.
Instead let me tell you how this song speaks to me of the God who Restores. He came to restore people to a relationship with him. He came to restore justice. He came to restore freedom. He came to restore light and chase away the darkness. This is what he is still doing today. Christmas is a celebration of restoration. Of God coming to us and living with us and knowing us and being us and staying with us. We can have justice. We can be free. We can begin anew. We can join with him in his restoration of the world. This Holy Night continues in a more vibrant way each and everyday as we join with God who came to us.
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