“How
silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given…”
When I sing “O Little Town of
Bethlehem” these words from the third verse always make me pause. I’ve given
birth 4 times and know it isn’t done silently. I’ve also visited barns and those
places certainly aren’t quiet. So I’ve often wondered how is it that Phillip
Brooks chose those words when describing the birth of Jesus.
Part of the answer may be in how
Brooks set the stage through the first two verses. There seems to be two sides
to this incredible story of Jesus’ arrival to earth. You have the oblivious
inhabitants of Bethlehem and then you have the angels watching.
“O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see the lie…
yet in thy dark
streets shineth the Everlasting Light”
“While mortals sleep…
The
angels keep their watch of wondering love”
As unbelievable of a plot this could
be, those living in Bethlehem truly were clueless to the incredible event
taking place. They were asleep while Mary struggled through the process of delivering
a baby. No one was anticipating that the Messiah, the long awaited promise, the
Prince of peace, would be born in such a crude environment.
No fanfares to announce the royal
birth…
only one angel giving a
message to the least likely group of people
to be told such incredible news - the shepherds
No public announcement…
only a choir of angels as backup
singers to the first angel.
No parades or parties
only gifts from foreign wise
men to celebrate this new life.
No family to show the baby to
only a blessing
from an old, devout man who was waiting to see the Promised
One before he died and a widow who was standing nearby
So maybe Phillip Brooks had the right
idea when he chose those words… for into such a place as little unaware Bethlehem,
God “silently gave” His wondrous gift – His best gift, His Son.
And with that
gift our lives have been changed forever because God so loved the world that He
gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have
eternal life.
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