Caroling, Caroling: O Holy Night

Here's the thing: this is probably my favorite carol, so it was easy to start with this one. My suggestion for listening to this one is Josh Grobin's version, but really most any will do for this one.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
(This line reminds me that this night is the antithesis of the chaos that so often surrounds our Christmas Eve. It centers me back on the fact that this is moment when God became man to save me.)
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
(This reminds me that the world, like the Israelites were aching for a Savior, and that I should feel that same ache, that same need.)
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
(The soul, then and now, tormented by sin and Satan's attacks, and now there's hope for salvation. Hope for salvation! Hope that we can be changed!)
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
(The only proper response when you let the previous lines really sink in.)
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
(These two lines are such a picture of salvation to me. We are led, brought to salvation by faith. This is the gospel, God sending his Son, to draw men and women to himself. I can never sing these lines without seeing myself, a sinner with nothing, like the shepherds, the least of all, brought to the manger to receive everything!)
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend!
He knows our need—to our weakness is no stranger.
(This is direct allusion to the Hebrews 4:15-16, which talks about our High Priest, Jesus, who can sympathize with our weaknesses. What an amazing thing! That Christ is our friend through trials, because he's experienced them.)
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend!

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.
(These four lines are pretty popular with the world because they talk about love and peace, but really they are a reminder to me that the only way we will have true peace with each other is if every individual on earth, first has peace with God--Romans 5:1-2--and that the fact that the slave is our brother is the good news from Galatians 3:26-29 that anyone God choses may be saved, regardless of status or ethnicity.)
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!