Article by Cameron Spink

 

It is a regular occurrence that we, the Spink family, gather around the television on Christmas Eve and watch the Melbourne Carols. This years festivities had me contemplating about carols and what importance we must place upon them. Songs are an integral part of worshipping. As the psalmist utters:

 

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

Psalm 95:1-2 (ESV)

 

God is pleased with music that glorifies Him. The Psalms are full of adoring music to our creator and saviour. Many of the carols that are sung are, indeed, reflecting and discussing the absolute power and majesty of our King. Yet, I can't help feeling that there are many singers who perform items at carols all over the world who do not bend the knee to the God they sing about. This is perhaps ironic that God may, indeed, work through the non-believer to touch another.

 

My favourite carol is O Holy Night. This was written in 1847 and, as Wikipedia states was composed to the French poem Minuit, chrétiens. The direct translation of this poem is particularly powerful. Here is the full version:

 

Of course what is now sung is typically very different from this translation. Usually this song is performed by the strongest female vocal singer. Mariah Carey and Celine Dion are only two of the many artists to have bent their vocals to the skies as they battled the high notes in this song. One of the most impressive covers of this song was child prodigy Rhema Marvanne who recorded her version at the mere age of seven:

 

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It is hard to gauge how many people actually think about the words they are singing. There are many who would not wish to have any association with our God yet still choose to glorify Him in the carols they sing. Rhema Marvanne, in her capacity at her age, is an avid follower of Christ. Her website www.rhemamarvanne.com quotes Jeremiah 29:11 at the top of her page. Rhema is only nine now so her faith will mature and grow through the years. No doubt, as a celebrity, she will face trials and she may waver in her understanding of biblical truths (like so many others do) but at the moment she has a unique perception of the love of God. It is of this love that she sings about.

 

The faith of a child is something to be envied. It is a pure form which is dimmed over the years by a destructive society. Jesus calls us to "receive the kingdom of God like a child" (Luke 18:17). As we grow we tend to develop into unhealthy skeptics who believe that our way is better than God's. We are fed this lie in University, in advertisements and, likely, in our work place. This is profoundly similar to the original sin that transpired when Adam and Eve bought into the lies of the serpent. Because of our disobedience we deserve the wrath of God but through Jesus we have the opportunity to be redeemed and delivered.

 

It is this theme that the original poem of O Holy Night immerses itself in. Listening to this song while disregarding the implications is to be wilfully ignorant to the immersive power of our creator. I am a fond listener to a great variety of music and it is the story behind a song that gives a song intensity beyond the instruments and vocals. The form of O Holy Night that is present today was developed by John Sullivan Dwight as a singing alternative and isn't it majestic? It has a musical climax to rival all other songs in history but it has a truth that is still present about the night when hope came to this world.

 

It was 1800 years after the historical life of Christ that the poem Minuit, chrétiens was penned. It seems ridiculous to look at the history of civilisation and the amount of events that have occurred and see Christ as the enduring influence. One man spoken of, sung about through the ages. Yet, should we expect any less? Isaiah discusses the coming of Christ over eight centuries before God entered the world in human flesh. Isaiah 53 proclaims the arrival of the one who will "bear our griefs" (Isaiah 53:4) and be "wounded for our transgressions" (Isaiah 53:5).

 

This brings me great joy. From the start of creation to this very day humanity sings to a magnificent creator. As He remains in our songs so does He in every facet of our world. This is part of the good news. It is part of having faith like a child to know that we are not alone. We have an ever-present and always powerful God. As we have citizenship in salvation it is our task to make our words and actions an"ardent light" that points to our redeemer. Where once we were chained by our own way our eyes have been opened to the understanding that our earth is free. We no longer have to be slaves, we can be released from captivity. Such a reality deserves the greatest of songs and the deepest reflection. As the new year is peaking over the horizon I encourage my readers to dwell upon the knowledge that "[f]or all of us He is born, He suffers and dies". Such an act has brought hope to the entire world!