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Smooth Water
“Chaplains Christmas Cantata Carefully Cascading Christmas Carol”
Jim & Linda Jack
Many years ago, some Christmas Carols were a way of conveying the Christian message hidden in the lyrics of a song. Unfortunately, some Christians were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Thus there were songs with two levels of meaning. Each element or chorus of the carol was a code word or phrase for a Christian reality. It was also a great way to help believers remember the real meaning of the “reason for the season.”
If some of these songs were written for children to learn and remember…then do we as adults know what the picture is painting for our portion and purpose of knowing the Son of God and passing along the good news?
The first year I was a Christian…way back in 1988; I was amazed at what the lyrics in the Christmas Carols (songs that I had heard and sung under my breath for forty years) were actually telling the world about the full-throttle message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As I listened in detail to the lyrics of many carols, I understood even more so why many people never get the “reason for the season.” The words of the songs only reached their ears and not their heart! I realized how easy it is to stroll around in life singing the words to the music, but never understanding the full meaning, or putting them into practice.
The following song (one that you’ve probably heard for many years) is one of those in which the lyrics may have seemed a little weird? But it tells a great story.
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Day 1 The partridge in a pear tree…is Jesus Christ.
Day 2 Two turtledoves…are the Old Testament and New Testament.
Day 3 Three French hens…stand for faith, hope and love.
Day 4 The four calling birds…are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Day 5 The five golden rings…recall Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
Day 6 The six geese a-laying…stand for the six days of creation.
Day 7 Seven swans a-swimming…represent the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
Day 8 The eight maids a-milking…are the eight beatitudes.
Day 9 Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit:…Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
Day 10 The ten lords a-leaping… are the Ten Commandments.
Day 11 The eleven pipers piping…stand for the eleven faithful disciples.
Day 12 The twelve drummers drumming… symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. I find this sort of thing interesting and enlightening and now we know how that seemingly strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish. You judge for yourself…is this song a coincidence or a God thing.
Merry Christmas to everyone…and may every day be joy-filled and exciting as the birth of a new-born child. We at IHBA pray that you have a blessed and wonderful Christmas season.
If you’re interested in some more carol lyrics, check the song below. It tells it like it is!
“Hark The Herald Angels Sing”
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 th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n 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.
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 power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Every Birth Is a Miracle
“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.”
Twenty Centuries Ago There Was the Miracle of Miracles
“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” which means, “God with us.”
He Was Born the Son Of God
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”
This Baby Was Born Just For You
“Yet to all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
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