Merry Christmas!

"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,  to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons."
(Galatians 4:4-5, ESV) 

Have a very blessed Christmas, focused on God's great gift of grace!

Hymn of the Month - Creator of the Stars of Night

I love hymns.  The fantastic and diverse hymnody of the church is something to rejoice over.  It has been the study of scholars and laymen alike.  However, in an iPhone world (where people are continually wanting the next big thing), people are starting to lose out on this wonderful, scriptural hymnody that helps set the church apart from the rest of the world. So, in an effort to bring good hymnody back to the forefront, my goal is to highlight a different hymn each month.
Since we are currently in the season of Advent, I want to start with the hymn "Creator of the Stars of Night." This hymn is often attributed to St. Ambrose, however, there is little proof that he is actually the author.  What we do know is that is a Latin hymn written somewhere between the 5th and 10th centuries.  The most common English translation was done by John Mason Neale.
Light and darkness are a common theme in Scripture and appear frequently in Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany hymnody.  The apostle John wrote:

          In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.

          Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

(John 1:1-4, NIV)

"Creator of the Stars of Night" refers to Jesus as the "everlasting Light."  The hymn also references the reason that Jesus came to earth in the first place - to redeem us from the curse of sin, death, and eternal condemnation.  This isn't always a happy thought or a joyful thought during this season where people want to think only of happy things.  But, after all, where is the joy of Christmas if not for the death of resurrection of Jesus?  Without that, Christmas is meaningless.  This wonderful hymn reminds us of this truth.

Here are the lyrics to this wonderful hymn (which are public domain, by the way):

Creator of the stars of night,

Thy people's everlasting Light:

O Christ, Redeemer, save us all

And hear Thy servants when they call.

Thou, grieving that the ancient curse

Should doom the death a universe,

Hast found the healing, full of grace,

To cure and save our ruined race.

Thou cam'st the Bridegroom of the bride,

As drew the world to eventide,

The spotless Victim all divine

Proceeding from a virgin shrine.

At whose dread name, majestic now,

All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;

All things celestial Thee shall own,

And things terrestrial, Lord alone.

O Thour, whose coming is with dread

To judge the living and the dead,

Preserve us from the ancient foe

While still we swell on earth below.

To God the Father and the Son

And Holy Spirit, Three in One,

Praise, honor, might, and glory be

From age to age eternally.

Amen.