Christmas Hymns: See Amid the Winter’s Snow

I have been reviewing some modern worship songs, but I’ve taken a break to explore some Advent and Christmas hymns. 😀. Today, I’ve chosen the Victorian hymn See Amid the Winter’s Snow:

It’s funny that snow is such a dominant theme, given that we don’t know the time of year in which Jesus was born. And so much of the world doesn’t have snow at Christmas. It’s quite rare here in Ireland too. I don’t associate snow with the lands of the Bible, but the word snow does feature. When I did a search on Bible Gateway, I got 23 results. The most famous Old Testament verse is the following:

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

This verse reminds us of the complete forgiveness offered to Israel. And several passages throughout Isaiah speak of the coming of the Messiah.

And the two New Testament “snow” instances relate to the angel at the tomb of Jesus and John’s vision of Jesus in the book of Revelation:

Matthew 28:2-3
² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 

Revelation 1:14
The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.

I suspect that if we were able to travel back in time to Bethlehem, we wouldn’t see the Christmassy vision that’s so commonly depicted today. Things might have seemed much more ordinary and mundane, though what happened was far from ordinary.

Let’s have a look at the lyrics:

1 See, amid the winter's snow,
born for us on earth below,
see the tender Lamb appears,
promised from eternal years.

Refrain:
Hail, thou ever blessed morn!
Hail, redemption's happy dawn!
Sing through all Jerusalem,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."

2 Tim 1:9
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

2 Lo, within a manger lies
He who built the starry skies;
He who, throned in height sublime,
sits amid the cherubim! [Refrain]

John 1:10
“He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.”

In verse 3, we’re reminded of the good news being announced to shepherds, who were very ordinary folk. I think of the millions of ordinary people who have heard the good news since. And Jesus reminded us that heaven rejoices when a sinner repents. Perhaps these very angels who brought the good news to the shepherds rejoice when we come to Christ.

They sang “peace on earth”. We won’t see the complete fulfilment of this until Jesus returns. But I just wonder what the earth would be like if Christ had never come. And I think of the millions who have found peace with God since then. Verse 5 reminds us of the divinity of Christ. It’s obvious throughout the gospels that he was worshiped and that he spoke with the authority of God. But much of the emphasis is on him becoming human. And verse 6 reminds us of how meek and mild he was and how we should follow his example.

3 Say, ye holy shepherds, say,
what's your joyful news today?
Wherefore have ye left your sheep
on the lonely mountain steep? [Refrain]

4 "As we watched at dead of night,
Lo! we saw a wondrous light;
angels singing 'Peace on earth'
told us of the Savior's birth." [Refrain]

5 Sacred Infant, all divine,
what a tender love was Thine,
thus to come from highest bliss
down to such a world as this! [Refrain]

6 Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,
by Thy face so meek and mild,
teach us to resemble Thee,
in Thy sweet humility! [Refrain]

Here are a few interesting versions of the hymn:

I may as well take the opportunity to present a few of my favourite snowy secular songs 😀: