from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
400 years of silence. No prophets speaking. Heaven is quiet. There is hope, however, as the pages of scripture speak of One who is coming. Their Messiah. On a quiet night, in a small town, a holy birth takes place. God’s gift to all men. As we hustle and bustle through the Christmas season, do we look for quiet moments? To still our hearts. To look heavenward, giving thanks to God for His precious Son, Jesus. We praise Him. We humble ourselves before Him. In the quiet stillness, our hearts repent of sin and receive Jesus as Savior. Shepherd us. Abide with us. Let Your light shine in our hearts as we proclaim Your name, Jesus.
1 O little town of Bethlehem,*
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
2 For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
3 How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav’n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.
4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
*hymnary.org