A Weary World

“O Holy Night” (original title:Cantique de Noël) is asacred song, frequently performed as acarol. Originally based on a French-language poem written in 1843 by poetCappeau, it was set to music by composerAdamin 1847. The English version, with small changes to the initial melody, is byJohn Sullivan Dwight. The carol reflects on theof Jesushumanity’s redemption. (Wikipedia)

As I write this article, we have just celebrated Christmas and are in the first month of a new year, that is, 2024. The above hymn is one of my favourites and I especially feel the words of the fifth line for this weary world that we live in today. This was the case before the first Advent, His first coming. They were weary and looking for a Saviour, a Messiah. Unfortunately, His coming as a baby to grow into a man was not what they were expecting, but little did they recognize at the time what this wonderful baby would end up doing for them and the world. He was the miracle they were looking for but did not recognize. He is the hope for the world. As we now wait for the Second Advent of His Coming, we are also living in a weary world. Again, our Israel nations and the world are looking for hope but are looking in all the wrong places. Our lives are full of despair and anxiety and most people do not know who or where to turn for help. But we know we must turn to Jesus Christ; he came the first time to save us and bring us to Him and is coming again very soon to do the same, but we must be ready. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Isaiah 40 talks about how to receive comfort through trusting in the Lord and recognizing who He is and His majesty. Verses 21 to 23 say, “Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:That bringeth{reduces} the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity {useless}”. This is what He is doing today. He is revealing to us who these useless leaders are and will eventually destroy all their power. This is what vs 24 says,” Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.” They shall not increase in power and grow no more roots. They shall die off and be as nothing (stubble for the fire?) Who else can do this? Who else is like Him? It is Him that we wait for, Him that will give us the hope we long for when He returns.” Verses 25-31 say it all,“To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: {see Psa. 147:4, stars} he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth {is missing}.Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from theLord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, theLord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:But they that wait upon theLordshall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Here is the last verse of O Holy Night and we all say, come quickly Lord Jesus!

“Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord!

O praise his name forever!

His power and glory evermore proclaim!

His power and glory evermore proclaim”