Songs have a way of capturing our attention but they also have a way of expressing our true affection. As Christmas approaches, what songs are you listening to? What songs express the yearning of your heart and soul?

There are silly Christmas songs. There are sentimental Christmas songs. There are secular Christmas songs. These songs may be fun and feel festive but they lack the depth to minister to us deeply. There are songs that sound sweet to our ears but we need songs that provide meat for our souls. There are songs that distract us in the darkness and then there are songs that bring light to the darkness.

One such song that is meaty is Hark, the Herald Angels Sing by Charles Wesley. We are familiar with the first three stanzas to the song but I want to share two other stanzas which are not well-known (vs 4-5).

1. Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumphant of the skies;
With angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

2. Christ, by highest heav'n adored; Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the Virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

3. Hail, the heav'n born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays his glory by, Born that men no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give the second birth.

4. Come, Desire of Nations, come, fix in Us thy humble home.
Rise, the Woman’s Conqu’ring Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving pow’r, ruin’d nature now restore,
Now in mystic union join, Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

5. Adam’s Likeness, LORD, efface, stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love
Let us Thee, tho’ lost, regain, Thee, the life, the inner man.
Oh! to all Thyself impart, form’d in each believing heart.

Grace and Peace

PJ