‘Twas the night before Christmas when all through the earth

God’s people were waiting for their Saviour’s birth.

For hundreds of years they had heard it foretold

Of the wonders and majesty theirs to behold.

Isaiah had said that a Son would be given,

A Child would be born of a Father in Heaven,

A Virgin would bear Him and give Him a name…

Immanuel, God with us, Jesus, the same.

And every young maiden, for centuries past,

Had wondered and prayed if she would be asked

To mother the God-Child, to bring forth the Son,

To bear the Redeemer, God’s Anointed One.

But Micah, the prophet, had said in his day

That the birth of the Saviour would happen this way:

From the line of King David, in Bethlehem small

The Saviour would come for one and for all.

And, true to His promise, as God always is,

In the fullness of time the world would be His.

 

So, God had made ready the world for that night.

The Romans had said that a census was right.

And Mary and Joseph, who’d planned to be wed,

Must leave home in Naz’reth for Bethl’em instead.

Now God had already spoken to Mary

Through archangel Gabriel and said not to fear.  He

Had found favour with her and asked her to be

The mother of Jesus, and she did agree.

And Joseph, in fear of what people might say,

Had thought to send poor little Mary away.

But God had said “No”, that all would be well,

The Child Mary carried was God’s and would tell

Of the love of the Father for all of mankind,

And be for all people the pathway to find.

 

So, May and Joseph set off on their trip.

With Joseph on foot and his wife on the hip

Of a donkey.  For many a wearying mile

They travelled, and Mary was all this while

About to give birth to this special Child.

But long was the journey and slow passed each mile;

And Mary had needed to rest on the way,

So when they arrived and sought room to stay,

They found that the town was quite full, and instead

Of a well needed rest on a comfortable bed

They were offered a stable … a STABLE! …now really!

Would you like to sleep in a stable?  You’d feel He’d

Deserve something better … a palace … a castle …

With hundreds of servants and all of the hassle

That goes with a royal birth.  But no, in a stable,

With straw for a bed and the floor for a table,

With donkeys and cattle and sheep and a manger,

With only His Mother and Joseph, this Stranger

Arrived in the night.  It was quiet and still;

So peaceful, so gentle, a night of goodwill

To all men.  And Jesus, the Infant, the King,

Could hear angels tell of the wonderful thing

That God had accomplished in Bethl’em that night.

The sky was just full of His angels in flight,

Spreading the news of His coming to all

Who would hear it, and come then to Bethlehem’s stall.

 

Some shepherds awake keeping watch on their sheep

On Hillsides, while all of the townspeople sleep,

Saw angels and heard them proclaiming abroad

The peace and goodwill of our Heavenly God.

The angels said “Fear not, I bring you good news

Which shall be for all people, if they so choose;

The Saviour is born who is Jesus, the Lord,

For Almighty God has been true to His Word.

He promised a Saviour, and this very night

Your eyes can behold Him … this wonderful sight.

In Bethlehem small, at the inn, in a stable

You’ll find Baby Jesus, so come if you’re able.”

So, leaving their flocks, they went hurrying down

To see this magnificent happening in town.

And, just as the angels had said it would be,

They found Baby Jesus at His Mother’s knee.

The Infant, so tiny, so gentle, so lowly,

Is King of Eternity, mighty and holy,

And true to His promise, as God always is,

In the fullness of time the world will be His.

 

So come now, His people, and join in the song

That echoes forever, through all ages long.

Join shepherds and angels who worship Him still,

For He came to earth to do His Father’s will.

He humbled Himself as a Babe in a manger

And left all in Heaven to live as a stranger

Among those He loved but who knew not His ways,

And showed us His Kingdom.  Oh, give Him all praise!

Come worship, adore Him, for now is the season,

And God’s sacrifice of Him, that is the reason.

He  brought peace to earth as the first Christmas gift,

The peace in the heart that to Him we lift.

‘Tis yours for the taking, and with it comes love

And joy in abundance, His gifts from above.

Just welcome this Baby whose birthday we hold

And live in His promise that never grows old.

For, from Adam’s fall to the Saviour’s return,

If nought else but one thing, this we must learn …

For those He has called, whom are called by His Name

His promised eternity still is the same.

For true to His promise, as God always is,

In the fullness of time the world will be His.

So join in the chorus and bow down before Him.

Oh come, all ye faithful, come worship, adore Him.