O Holy Night

John 1:9-11 (NIV) says, "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him."

I love Christmas music. Well, let me back up...I like MOST Christmas music. There are some really BAD renditions of Christmas music out there (in my opinion). But there's something about hearing it, singing it, playing it. It's just different than any other type of music.

Last week, I bought the GLEE Christmas album. GLEE is not one of those shows that I would recommend--simply because I believe it has an agenda and its morals are not in line with what I'd want to promote. But, the talent of the cast is pretty incredible (if you like belting broadway singers, which I do). So, I buy a lot of their music.

As I listened, I was surprised by how much sacred Christmas music was on the cd. I even found it ironic that the Jewish girl in the cast was singing "O Holy Night." I wondered if they knew what that song was about when they had her sing it. I wondered if she knew she was singing about Jesus--the Jesus in the verses above. And, while I don't agree with the morals of the show, I was thrilled that the message of that song would be put out in the mainstream market. Millions of people will buy that album. Millions of people will hear that message. My prayer is that the text of that song will root itself in the hearts and minds of people who don't know Christ, and will cause them to seek Him.

"O Holy Night" is truly one of those unique songs. It grabs people's hearts. Two years ago, I was playing a job with a Muslim friend of mine. The choir on the job we were playing sang "O Holy Night". My Muslim friend thought it was the most beautiful piece he had ever heard. He had to leave the country shortly after that, but I've prayed often that he would hear that song again, and that the message would penetrate his heart.

Several years before that, I played in an orchestra where we played the most AWFUL arrangement of O Holy Night I'd ever heard. It was musically sub-standard in my opinion. But funny how God doesn't really care about my opinion on the quality of music. He used that evening, and that specific arrangement, to work on the heart of a neighboring violinist in the orchestra who broke down in tears before God after hearing that song. She hadn't been living right, and He convicted her and changed her heart through that song. It was a lesson to me that I need to be careful what I deem as "quality" and "sub-standard". The message is more important than the form, and God will use that message. He promises us that if we put His word out there, it will NOT come back void. (Isaiah 55:11)

Well, here's the abbreviated story of O Holy Night, and how it came about.

"Oh, Holy Night”, based on the poem “Cantique de Noel”, was written by Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure in 1847 in France. The song died out in France, but was discovered and translated into English by an American, John Sullivan Dwight. Being an abolitionist, the following verse really spoke to Dwight: “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother And in His Name all oppression shall cease.” The song achieved worldwide fame when Reginald Fessenden made the first broadcast over the airwaves on Christmas Eve. He read the Christmas story and then played “Oh, Holy Night” on his violin, thus becoming the first song ever heard via radio waves.

Since then, it has become a favorite of many, and one of the most beautiful carols sung during this season. Pray that songs like this will fall into open hearts who need to know Jesus. Then, pray that we will be sensitive enough to follow up and lead people to the Christ.

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." John 1:4 (NIV)