Series: Incarnation Hymnody

Incarnation Hymnody: "Of the Father's Love Begotten" and "Silent Night"

This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

God’s people, and especially those who would stand before the Christian assembly and lead in singing praise, ought always to be thoughtful about what they are singing.  This is often a challenge with familiar songs, and perhaps especially in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  During the last month of the year, those who are… Continue Reading

Incarnation Hymnody: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

Incarnation Hymnody: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" and "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus"

This entry is part 2 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Today’s post continues our series on “incarnation hymnody.”  Today: the ancient “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” and Charles Wesley’s “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” ____________________ “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” is an ancient song and an interesting example of singing texts with a different understanding than the text’s author intended.  Because the hymn is… Continue Reading

Incarnation Hymnody: "Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth" and “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"

Incarnation Hymnody: "Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth" and “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

We here continue our series on Incarnation Hymnody.  Today: the ancient “Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth” and the not-quite-as-ancient-but-still-very-old “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”. Incorporating hymnody such as these two pieces from years past helps, I think, to emphasize our connection to the church’s past, and can perhaps fulfill C. S. Lewis’s sage… Continue Reading

O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee (More "Incarnational Hymnody")

This entry is part 4 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

A friend of mine once mused that  it was at Christmas that Christians finally sing good hymns. Selah.1 And Chuck Bumgardner (here and here and here) has been providing some excellent commending great hymns of the season. I thought I would take my weekly post here to suggest to you an advent hymn myself. I… Continue Reading

Incarnation Hymnody: "Angels, from the Realms of Glory"

This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

Continuing our series on incarnation hymnody, we take a look today at “Angels, from the Realms of Glory.” ___________________________ “Angels, from the Realms of Glory” is nearing its bicentennial, having been first published in 1816 by James Montgomery.  Hymnals nearly universally include the first four stanzas, but omit the fifth: Angels from the realms of… Continue Reading

See Amid the Winter's Snow

See Amid the Winter's Snow

This entry is part 6 of 6 in the series Incarnation Hymnody You can read more posts from the series by using the Contents in the right sidebar.

The concept often referred to as the humiliation of God the Son—the notion that the second person of the Trinity emptied himself of the full manifestation of His glorious divinity, left his privileged position in heaven, veiled himself in human flesh, and dwelt among his creatures as one of them—is one of the most wonderfully… Continue Reading