Here we explore hymns and songs that express New Covenant truth. So many hymns and songs are weak if not sickly from the perspective of our New Covenant relationship with our God. Look here for hymns and songs the lyrics of which reflect the truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Why this matters: This well-known Christmas hymn or carol is perhaps not as well known as many think. When the original verse was published in 1739, it had ten stanzas of four lines each. It also had some of the best Christian theology of any verse ever written outside of scripture. The Brothers Wesley published the verse in a book of hymns and poems, then Charles wrote the original version of the hymn – then known as “Hymn for Christmas Day” – we now hear each Christmas.

Over time, the melody was changed to one by Felix Mendelssohn. The words were changed here and there, unfortunately watering down the great theology at a few points. Most recently, the fourth and fifth verse have been largely omitted from hymnals, and in a few, a substitute fourth verse has been inserted, one that loses much of the great theology in the original.

Below is the closest version to the original that has the English updated so the modern reader can figure it out. All five verses are here with their original and powerful meanings. They point to our redemption, the replacing of the curse of separation from God by the restoration of us into “mystic union” with Himself – us into Christ and Christ into us. Enjoy!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Charles Wesley

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored; Christ the everlasting Lord; Late in time, behold Him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail th’incarnate Deity, Pleased with us in flesh to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel. Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Come, Desire of nations, come, fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power, ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join Thine to ours, and ours to Thine. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

 Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface, stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain, Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart, formed in each believing heart. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

Banner Image via Pixabay. Charles Wesley image from the book of hymns and verse published by Charles and John Wesley. The first verse words and part of those in the second are on the capture. The original ten verses were combined into five, so verses one and two in the capture are now verse one. Charles wrote hymns with up to 19 verses! Public domain.