DAY 19

HATE’S END

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a carol that I did not become familiar with until adulthood, but it has quickly become one of my favorites.  I am attaching to this blog two videos.  The first one tells a little about the history behind the song lyrics and the other video is sung by Johnny Reid.   I like this song because it takes seriously the problem of evil in the world and what its solution is.

The song states,

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

We speak of peace often during the Christmas season.  It is a fitting topic for the angels announced that peace had come to men.  But then we evaluate the situation in the world.  There seems to be very little peace today.  Hate, indeed, is very strong in our world and seemly is winning the battle.

 The song continues,

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

It is easy to give up and fall into a pit of despair.  If we look at the world at face value, we will end in despair.  The more man tries to alleviate the problem, the worse the world becomes.  The reality is, “God is not dead, nor doth he sleep.” God is alive and at work in his world.  Matthew 1: 23 reminds us, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).”  God made the greatest incursion into enemy territory in the history of warfare when he was born into his world that was in open rebellion against him.  The truth is the battle is ended.  He has won the victory.  Hate is in the throes of death.  Satan is defeated and he knows his time is short.

This Advent season, do not hang your head in despair.  Hate is defeated.  Peace is victorious through our Savior whose birth we celebrate.

 I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”