“The Nativity” by Rev. George Matheson

24 Dec “The Nativity” by Rev. George Matheson

This Christmas I want to share a beautiful song written by Rev. George Matheson, “the Blind Bishop of Edinburgh,” in the late 1800’s.  The words are simply powerful and the theology is tight. He was blessed with a way with words that puts your mind on things above.  I pray it blesses your heart and feeds your soul as much as it has mine.

The Nativity

“For unto us a Child is born. . .” Isaiah 9:6

The heaven and earth are meeting,

The day and dark are greeting,

For God Himself in splendour has filled the sunless sky;

And all the plains are ringing

With angel voices singing,

“Peace to the lowly hearted; glory to God most high!”

O shepherds, worn and weary,

The night no more is dreary,

Your watch hath been surprised by unexpected day;

Unheralded by warning

Breaks out the midnight morning,

And all the startled shadows in terror flee away.

Blest morning of God’s pity

Sent down from that fair City

That needeth not the earthly sun to be its noonday light,

Before thy golden portals

We mortals stand immortals

And longing fades in wonder, and faith is lost in sight.

Hear, all ye sons of sadness,

The tidings of great gladness

That stir the sleeping valleys, that hush the wakerife seas!

To you in Bethlehem’s manger

Is born the heavenly Stranger

For whom the anxious world waiteth on bended knees!

Nature hath heard the story,

And sent a star of glory

To pay her meed of tribute to Him that wears her crown;

Wisdom from all the ages

Hath singled out her sages

Before His infant feet to lay proud reason down.

O Child or beauty golden,

Young  ‘mid the nations olden;

Earth kindles at They morning her days of youth long set;

And hearts that seemed to wither

Burst into bloom together

Beneath the sunlit hope that waits Thy Olivet.