"In the Bleak Midwinter" -
Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness
have seen a
great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has
dawned.
Most scholars believe that Jesus was not born in
December. Some of the most compelling
arguments are for March or April. The
bottom line is that we just don’t know for sure. Despite that uncertainty the church
eventually co-opted a previously pagan holiday and set the yearly celebration
of Christ’s birth on December 25th, in the bleak midwinter. After hundreds of years of tradition, it
seems most fitting to celebrate God entering the world during the harshest of
seasons, a time when we would long for such a celebration. And this year, it seems especially well timed
in the bleak midwinter where we find ourselves still in the midst of a global
pandemic.
I love today’s song for at least a couple reasons other than
it is sung by one of my favorite artists.
It paints the picture of the dark and bleak time that Jesus entered the
world. The Word of God had not been
definitely heard for four hundred years.
The people lived under the thumb of the ruthless Roman Empire. Factions within Israel fought for influence
but were mostly corrupt. Poverty was
widespread. This is why I like it to be
bitterly cold at Christmas. It reminds
me that the world did not offer Christ a warm welcome. This tone, lyrics and Taylor’s voice singing
this song captures that truth so beautifully. Listening to this song often
elicits tears for me.
But in spite of its sad tone, this song offers hope. It does so not by suddenly changing the tempo
and tone to one that it joyous and upbeat, but by uttering powerful words of
hope in the midst of minor chords and tear-jerking notes:
Our God, heaven cannot hold
Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee
away when He comes to reign.
Hope often comes not in the contrived “don’t worry, be
happy” way. Often it comes as a quiet
divine “I’m here” in the midst of the harshest times of our lives. I am thankful for that because that is the
kind of hope we need this year.
Question: What
darkness do you need Christ to shed some light into this season?
Prayer: God, you are
welcome here. Bring light to our
darkness. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray
for people struggling with depression and/or grief right now.
Song: James Taylor -
In the Bleak Midwinter
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