DAY 9

 

DO NOT BE OUT DONE BY A STONE

 

“All the bells on earth shall ring

On Christmas day.”

 

“All the angels in heaven shall sing

On Christmas day.”

 

Will you be out done by all of these during this Christmas season?  Or will you join your praise with, “All the souls on earth (who) shall sing on Christmas day”?

 

On one occasion, when Jesus was being hailed with shout of praise, the Pharisees chided him for allowing his disciples to do so.  Jesus replied in Luke 19:40, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”  Will this Christmas necessitate praise pouring forth from stones?  Only if his people are silent.

 

This Advent season, join your voice with the multitudes of heaven and earth with shouts of praise for the King of kings is born, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

HISTORICAL NOTE:   Some will make a big deal about the geographical incorrectness of this song.  Bethlehem is about 20 miles from the nearest body of water.  Therefore how can ships go sailing into it at Christmastime or any other time?  I am willing to allow for artistic freedom on that point.  There is evidence to suggest that this carol has its organ in Cologne, Germany.  The cathedral in Cologne has a shrine which is reputed to house the skulls of the three magi (Another inaccuracy, we do not know how many magi there were).  This song is believed to have been first written to commemorate the ships which transported the skulls into the city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I SAW THREE SHIPS ON CHRISTMAS DAY

I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
The Virgin Mary and Christ were there,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Pray, wither sailed those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
O they sailed into Bethlehem,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the bells on earth shall ring,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the Angels in Heaven shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
And all the souls on earth shall sing,
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;
Then let us all rejoice again,
On Christmas Day in the morning.