Songs Of Hope - Sing We Now Of ChristmasSample

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear

Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,
From heaven’s all-gracious King.
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.

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.

The world is full of many messages and songs. The rhythms and cadences of voices, calls, and requests fill our ears. Every day is a struggle to sort, organize, and evaluate what to consider, what to discard, and what to hold as true. Through all the chaos and confusion, our hearts and minds long for a better story. We all want something beautiful, good, and true to ring out and grab our ears.

It Came Upon the Midnight Clear is a retelling of the old story of the angels announcing the presence of Jesus the King. Their message and song ring out to proclaim a better story. Peace has come crashing into the world in an unexpected and profound way. The hymn writer, while retelling this story, beckons us to consider our world today. When we are at strife with one another, we are not listening to the message of the angels. We are incapable of hearing the love-song’s melody. We cannot be at war and seek goodwill to men. We cannot be divisive and follow the way of Jesus the King.

Are we listening? Can we even listen? War and strife no longer have a place since “heaven’s all-gracious King” has come. So let us lay down our weapons, lay down our vindictive and retributive natures, lay down our egos and defensiveness. In a world continually bent toward shouting and violence, let us “hush the noise” and listen.

Peace came through Jesus. Peace continues to come through Jesus. Peace will always come through Jesus. Let it be so in our lives this season and all the seasons to come.

Karl Baker
Assistant Director, Baptist Student Ministry
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor