Who is Herald?

One of the best Christmas carols has been the brunt of a cute joke which I won’t attempt to tell. The title of this blog is the punch line. Which is in reality the only part I know.

However I have to share some interesting things about Hark the Herald Angels Sing. Two leaders of the Methodist church, John Wesley and George Whitfield wrote the lyrics. The carol was first published in 1739 with music that was discarded and replaced in 1855 by W.H.Cummings who adapted music by Felix Mendelssohn. Interesting, right?

But the lyrics of the old carols, like the lyrics of the old hymns, have deep meanings. Please take time to meditate on the song’s meaning. The first threes verses are from the modernized words that were published in Carols for Choirs in 1961.

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 triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim
“Christ is born in Bethlehem”
Hark! The herald-angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”

Christ, by highest heaven adored
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald-angels sing
“Glory to the newborn King”

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!^[a]
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings;
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
“Glory to the new-born king”

These last two verses are from Wesley and Cummings’ original and worth a good pondering.

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.

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:
O! to All Thyself impart,
Form’d in each Believing Heart.

For all you nerds, it is fun to look up famous paintings of the Nativity. The image above is Worship of the Shepherds  by Bronzino.

Blessings to all and have a blessed Christmas. May everyone find comfort, peace, and the love of God in this special season.

KB

PS The lyrics were are used totally without permission. Ooops!