Sing These Christmas Hymns

God designed human beings to sing. It’s why from a very young age, babies and toddlers break out into spontaneous song, even if we don’t understand what they’re singing. And we’ll never stop singing, up until our very last days.

If you listen carefully, you will notice that we tend to sing about what has captured our hearts and minds. So what has captured your heart and mind this Advent season? We have no better reason to sing than this: the Savior came to live, die, and rise again to fix what sin had broken!

Dozens upon dozens (upon dozens upon dozens!) of Bible verses encourage us to sing, as an outpouring of the joy and gratitude we have in our heart for what the Lord has done. “I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 89:1)

In addition to reading Scripture with your family this December, I highly encourage you to sing every day. Here are just a few excerpts from six of my favorite Christmas hymns.

(Before setting them to music, read the words independently so you can internalize.)

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Christ, by highest heav’n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veil’d in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th’incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail! the heav’n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Joy to the World

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love
And wonders of his love
And wonder, wonders, of his love

O Come All Ye Faithful

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n;
Word of the Father,
Now in the flesh appearing,

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Silent Night

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love’s pure light.
Radiant beams from thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at thy birth
Jesus Lord, at thy birth

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

O come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

[Refrain]

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
there is room in my heart for thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”

God bless,

Paul David Tripp

Reflection Questions

1. Which Christmas hymn is your favorite, and why? Take time to read that entire hymn aloud without music, line by line. What did you notice that you previously missed or forgot about?

2. Find a verse or passage from Scripture that matches and supports your selected hymn (or that the hymn was written because of). How does this portion of God’s Word bring additional encouragement today, and why?

3. If someone were to write a song about the desires of your heart today, what would the song reveal? What are you pursuing? What brings you joy? What causes sadness and discouragement?

4. Have you ever tried writing song lyrics (or poetry)? Take time this month to write your own song, celebrating the birth of Jesus and what is has done in your own life. Even if you aren’t musical or don’t think you’re poetic, allow yourself to express creativity and gratitude through verse.