IN THE MANGER
See, resting softly, in Bethlehem’s manger
There is a Savior, as God had long-sworn.
Mighty Messiah, to keep us from danger,
Now, come in weakness, is finally born.
King in the manger, without any splendor,
Gave up the riches and yielded the crown.
These are the least that our King will surrender:
Rescuing rebels, He’ll lay His life down.
Priest in the manger, who now sympathizes,
Wearing our nature and clothed in disgrace.
O what a myst’ry that every saint prizes:
Why would this Priest come and die in our place?
God in the manger, who somehow is sleeping,
Lulled by the singing of angels above,
Holds all the world with His unfailing keeping,
Holds all my heart with His unfailing love.
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REFLECTION
Unlike the commercialized holiday, the Christian’s Christmas lasts the year long. Every Lord’s day we gather as God’s people to celebrate the incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Savior. So it was perhaps not too odd for me to have written this carol in the heat of July. Having been writing hymns for ten years now, I had never yet attempted one specifically focused on the theme of the incarnation. The topic seemed too marvelous and mysterious to justify it with my own paltry words. But then I thought that perhaps rejoicing in the mystery of it all would be a fitting approach. How could a mighty Messiah be weak? How could a King come in poverty? Why would a High Priest die for sinners? How is it that the God who sleeps in the manger still upholds the universe by the Word of His power? This carol rests in the contemplative, and that is brought out beautifully by a pensive, almost lullaby-like tune by composer Josh Bauder. I am truly honored to have Dr. Bauder’s music accompany this text, as it was a carol setting of his, algorithmed for some reason to appear on my YouTube channel one sweltering July afternoon, that got me thinking again about attempting a Christmas hymn.
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