O Holy Night

O Holy Night remains my favorite Christmas song. Take a listen and read the lyrics:



O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope, our weary soul rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born

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 chourus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name!

Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine!
O night when Christ was born

Christ is the Lord
O praise His name forever
O night divine!
O night, O night divine!



I read this article last Christmas, and am reminded of it again as I sing this song: 

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2011/12/23/all-oppression-will-cease-even-in-north-korea/

The article includes this statement: 

"Sin's entrance sent the world careening towards destruction, creating a rift between heaven and earth that required sacrifices, temples, and veils to protect us from the furious heat of God's holiness. The Christ child's entrance into the world set the two on a collision course once again, with the promise that the babe in the straw would reconcile them all, destroying death and sin in the process...There is nothing so liberating as the news that we have a better King and an eternal hope. In spite of their screeching protestations, every tyrant's days are numbered. A King was born in Bethlehem who will one day bring justice and peace."

Read it and join me in prayer this Christmas for North Korea and other nations around the world fighting oppression, war, slavery, natural disasters, poverty, famines, and other forms of unrest. Praise the Lord for the daily blessings we all take for granted, especially our freedom, and let them remind us to pray for the nations. Merry Christmas indeed.