The First Noel

Psalm 100 (NIV) reads:

1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

During the Advent season, I try to incorporate as many Christmas carols as possible from Thanksgiving to Christmas.  I don't know why; just that we have always done so.  What I do know is that people love to sing Christmas carols.  It reminds us of our Savior's birth.  It also reminds us of a time when we experienced the wonder of Christmas as a child.

In the words of Third Day:

"I want to feel Christmas, how it used to be
With all of its wonder falling on me
This season has felt so empty, oh, for quite a while
I want to feel Christmas like a child"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzE-u0fr0kQ

But what we do know is that many of the carols are based upon the Word of God.  And their timeless message (some I have come to discover are over 500 years old) does not change.  Just like the Christmas story.  The first and most basic reason we continue to sing the carols (or any hymn or praise & worship song) is to praise our Heavenly Father.  He created this world.  Then, He sent His only son to redeem it from the punishment of sin.  This is the message of God's redemption.  And this is the message of Christmas.

Today, I'd like to focus on the last verse of "The First Noel":

"Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our heavenly Lord
That hath made Heaven and earth of nought
And with his blood mankind has bought.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel!"

Let's see how this verse of the First Noel corresponds with Scripture:

First, the creation:

• "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth."  Psalm 33:6
• "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."  John 1:1-3
• "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."  Hebrews 11: 3
• "For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him."  Colossians 1:16

Next, his redeeming work of the cross:

• "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace."  Ephesians 1:7
• "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." Galations 4:4-5
• "In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness." Hebrews 9:22
• "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 5:8
• "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect."  I Peter 1:18-19

Finally, His Kingship:

• "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, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." Isaiah 9:6-7
• "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."  Micah 5:2
• "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem, and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."  Matthew 2:1-2
• "It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: THE KING OF THE JEWS."  Mark 15:25-26
• "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."  Philippians 2:9-11
• "On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords." Revelation 19:16

All these scriptures wrapped up in one verse of one carol. Praise the Lord!  He has provided for us the means for our salvation.  And with each song we sing, we can be reminded of these simple truths.  So, this Christmas season, take time to reflect on the words of the old familiar carols.  You just might find that God is speaking through His Word.