I have been reviewing some modern worship songs, but I’ve taken a break to explore some Advent and Christmas hymns. 😀. Just when you think Christmas is over, you remind yourself that December 25th is the first of the 12 days of Christmas. So, I’ll wait until January 7th to go back to normal hymns.
Today I’ve chosen As With Gladness.
This one is about the wise men, or perhaps more about us being encouraged to follow their example.
1. As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright,
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Ever more be led to thee.
2. As with joyful steps they sped,
Savior, to thy lowly bed,
There to bend the knee before
Thee whom Heav’n and Earth adore,
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek thy mercy seat.
3. As they offered gifts most rare
At thy cradle rude and bare,
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.
4. Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
Keep us in the narrow way,
And when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds thy glory hide.
5. In the heav’nly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun, which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.
It was composed by William Chatterton Dix on 6 January 1859, while ill in bed. It’s regarded as an epiphany hymn, sung after Christmas. I like the idea of Christmas spilling over into January, January being a dull and dreary month, at least here in Ireland 😀.
The wise men is just one of many examples in the New Testament of gentiles putting the core Jewish people to shame. So often, “outsiders” showed more warmth to Jesus. And even nowadays, you’ll often find that the most zealous and warm-hearted church members are those who came to Christ without having a “Christian” background. I think of the following verse from the start of John’s gospel:
John 1:9-13
9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Of course, while the Jews as a nation didn’t accept Jesus as their Messiah, thousands of them went on to become true believers, and the New Testament church was largely Jewish. But Christianity is all about personal faith. This is why the writer encouraged a personal faith in Jesus.
Here are some interesting versions of the hymn from various parts of the world:
Hibernia Gospel 