The Songs Tell the Story: A Family Advent Devotional预览

The Song about the King Whose Name We Can’t Ever Pronounce Correctly

This hymn was inspired by the story of an ancient king who was made a saint after his death. He was known as Vaclav the Good, or King Wenceslaus.

It is actually kind of funny to listen to people sing this song. Nobody seems to know how to pronounce Wenceslaus or Wenceslas, as it is written in most of our hymnals.

There are actually more than thirty possible pronunciations, but the most common in English is Wen – suh – sluhs.

The good news is, with more than thirty possibilities, you can’t really go wrong. Just say it confidently and everyone will think you are right!

King Whatever had a really interesting story.

The people of the Czech Republic had fallen on hard times. Tradition says that King W was looking out his window and watched a poor man collecting wood. The king asked his servant to find out where the poor man lived and help him take meat, drink, and firewood to his home.

It was a very cold night, and the king’s servant was struggling to walk in the snow. As the story goes, the king told his servant to step in his footprints. Miraculously, each time the servant placed his foot where the king’s foot had been, his feet were warmed.

They delivered the food and helped the family. Soon, news of the king’s generosity spread through the country, encouraging others to be generous too.

The last stanza of “Good King Wenceslas” says:

Therefore, Christian men, be sure

Wealth or rank possessing

Ye, who now will bless the poor

Shall yourselves find blessing.

Christmas is a time when we give to those we love and give to those in need. All of us can “bless the poor” with what we give, whether it be a lot or a little.

The amazing thing about giving is that, when we give what the Lord wants us to give, we find it to be a blessing in our lives as well.

Whom will you bless this Christmas?

May you be blessed for following the example of Good King You-Know-Who.