O Little Town of Bethlehem | story behind the hymn | lyrics study | performance

[@jm08050]

Brooks was an abolitionist who delivered the sermon at President Lincoln's funeral. He oversaw the construction of architect H/H Richardson's Romanesque style landmark Trinity Church in Copley Square, Boston following the fire which destroyed the original church. There is an enormous statue with canopy of Brooks as imposing preacher next the the Church. The statue was designed by the great Augustus Saint-Gaudens who also designed the $20 Saint Gaudens Double Eagle gold piece for the US mint. He also designed many Civil War Memorials which still stand today.

[@deonvanrhyn934]

I love reading all the comments. Thanks fellows it is greatly appreciated.

[@rachelrahman8984]

Thinking of Bethlehem. So many people with my surname were arrested there in recent years. My mother was agnostic, her parents Christian, my father Muslim. We all accepted each other and respected various beliefs. There's so much hate surrounding Bethlehem at the moment that listening to a recording this hymm, performed by King's College Choir - 1/2 a mile from my home, has reduced me to tears. A name can show you how easily your peaceful world could crumble under different circumstances.

[@conniewright1113]

God gives us gifts in little packages. A tune to a song that touches many souls. Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Our Gods gifts are perfect.

[@sooky2253]

It's absolutely my favourite Christmas hymn, too! I remember it from a snowy white Christmas in Germany, where i lived for a few years as a child on various airforce bases. Christmas was very specially celebrated there, with real trees and real candles on them, gingerbread houses and midnight mass. Later, it was celebrated in hot summer nights under southern skies, and now, back in England, I'm looking forward to hearing it once again. This year, they're forecasting snow already. Such a beautiful tune with so many memories attached.

[@BonnieKetterman-qw8vd]

What a beautiful.christmas story what a blessing I always enjoy ur wonderful.stories

[@camelliaclark7552]

"the silent starts go by..." Do you remember when God was answering Job, encouraging Job to trust in God for the things we cannot understand with our mortal limitations, when God reminisced about the Creation of His universe, "when the morning stars sang together?" We see these two aspects of God's personality, as well as in the Scriptures where the angels sing with joy as they announce the coming of Jesus". Even today, the angels in heaven rejoice every time a precious soul is saved by the grace of Jesus. God is so good!

[@nkennethdaniel]

What incredibly wonderful and piercing lyrics. Is it possible that there has ever been a time when mankind needed more for God to come to us and enter in? It is so incredible how God entered into this world at the time Christ came. He came in weakness to be our suffering servant. Not so when He comes again, hopefully very soon. Come soon Lord Jesus, come soon!

[@suegie821]

So good to spend time looking carefully at words at the Carols we sing. So often we gallop thru them at carol services. Thank u Luke

[@louisebrislane6607]

This is a favourite & sung to this tune of Ridley's each year at Christmas in churches & at carol's by candlelight everywhere in Australia, sadly we don't sing the verse about the children & having heard that he loved the children, it is sad that we don't include that verse. This year I have heard that Bethlehem won't be celebrating christmas as it is a muslim area & they are banning outsiders to enter. They will be the poorer for it as tourists bring their money with them but I have very much noticed that the Palestinian people are so jealous & vitriolic against the Jewish /Christian people that they would cut their nose of to spite their face. We have seen this behaviour since they buried Abraham's wells way back in Biblical times. Today is no different & they badly need Jesus to come into their lives to change them. So I pray that this christmas time many will have their eyes opened to the truth.

[@babbsc3272]

The Christian churches have decided to cancel Christmas celebration in Bethlehem - not the Muslims. Bethlehem is located in an area of the West Bank of Palestine occupied/ controlled by israel. The decision was made to show solidarity with Palestinians under attack by Israel. One of the churches has the baby Jesus wrapped the the traditional Palestinian scarf lying in rubble and the associated characters are searching for the baby Jesus in the rubble. Did you know that Islam reveres Jesus as the Messiah and always say "May Peace be upon Him" after uttering His name? I didn't until I recently embarked on trying to understand the origins of the current conflict. In fact, it is the Jewish faith that rejects Jesus as the Messiah.

[@jaff351]

Brother Powell, I am from South India, your ministry to music has really made me inspired and helped to admire and sing the songs with renewed spirit. The land I live in is non English speaking where people love to sing lots and lots of Tamil songs they adapt many other local tunes people in churches especially during Christmas time make instant songs. I enjoy your music and the history of the songs. I pray you continue for the blessings. in language anks a lot. May the Lord bless tour ministry.

[@rosmariestampfli7171]

Love it, reminds me of the x-mas in SA with my small boys and my husband still alive thats where I learned this song!

[@edithofmo3171]

This beautiful carol always reminds me of my second grade teacher who played it on her autoharp while we sang along. I wonder how many teachers feel free to teach these carols now.

[@valerieanne225]

Where the spirit of the Lord is There is liberty. His Blood takes the ground and binds authoritarian, controlling spirits. Amen.!

[@bethhart7033]

I love the”biographies” of these songs thank you for retelling them. They really enhance the singing of them.

[@patriciabray5726]

So very reflective and a singing prayer 😂 as Bethlehem is closed December 2023 Let's all sing this song around the world in our homes and churches all places of gathering! Merry Christmas in our Hearts

[@smoothsailingmp]

Great! How we sang it growing up ..and now being 80....so glad to sing it again. Praise God 🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤😊😊😊

[@theadventuresofthedoginati2729]

This song is very special to me. It's the inspiration for the Christmas play I wrote this year.

[@carolkietzmann7496]

What a beautiful story and rendition of this song 😢

[@colletteseders2874]

Thank you for this. I am right now the musical director for an elementary school Christmas play, which is about the story behind some beloved carols. This is one of them. I have never heard another melody, though, and will have to find that.

[@vikkismith7497]

Still all my songs shall be, nearer my God to thee, still nearer to thee.

[@philiphumphrey1548]

Lovely hymn, but this Christmas I'm still playing it to Forest Green, the English folk song collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams. It's a bit more joyful and upbeat IMO. The tune used here is more reflective and a little bit darker, but I'm trying to warm to it.

[@vikkismith7497]

It's a December to remember.

[@diannhall7564]

Thank you for sharing this ❤ And for singing the tune I am familiar with. I can’t imagine any other tune!

[@nathankindle282]

If your doing Christmas carols, you should do "Once in Royal David's City"

[@Subarna-pr9dh]

Christmas is drawing near Thanks for this song🎉

[@nancybarnes9825]

I love this song

[@titichondoro2516]

i love Christmas songs..🙏💙🎶🎄❄⛄

[@deonvanrhyn934]

Hi Luke . Thanks for this one. I look so forward to our appointment for carrols at your church on Sunday 03 December 2023 at 18h00. It us going to be a highlight in my life to meet up with you and your team. SHALOM..

[@zaj6425]

Thanks much for today's presentation, Pastor Luke... First time hearing the history & the 4th verse of this hymn which I have been singing (in church & school) since childhood. I have sung both tunes, but in my region the other one is more popular especially among children & youth. Blessings on you always.

[@homeworshipwithmartyandamy7754]

Thank you for sharing the story behind different hymns. I haven't heard many of them.

[@368400368400]

One of my favourite carols.

[@chewscd]

Our church has always sung with this tune. I know another tune for this carol, and most probably it may not be the other tune that you're familiar with.

[@shinrin-yoku3877]

I found your channel and it is a blessing, thank you for what you are doing 🙏

[@valerieanne225]

We sang it from childhood to a different tune, but I really like this one. Always have loved the ethereal sound of piano. Thank you. Shalom

[@luciabriseno4065]

I Really enjoyed your channel 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻👌🏻☦️

[@VickyConaway]

Have you ever done away in the manger? The history of it. This and old little town are my favorites.

[@sherriejohnson508]

Yes Christmas music thank you

[@DamoneCoffie]

This is a great idea for a

[@dixiemontgonery131]

It would b nice to hear the other tune also.

[@mikepruett1745]

Hi Luke, thanks for doing this greetings from Chicago

[@doxieherblitz]

I'm curious what melody you grew up with. The one you sing here is the classic one in my world. Did you sing the version Amy Grant made famous?

[@yvonnewhitaker1500]

Do you know In the Bleak Midwinter?

[@philiphumphrey1548]

Words by Christina Rossetti, melody by Holst, it doesn't get much better than that.

[@babbsc3272]

Thank you for this explanation - it makes particularly poignant the fact that the effect of the current conflict was the decision of the churches in Bethlehem to cancel the celebration of Christmas in solidarity with the Palestinians under attack in Gaza. (except for the small processions traditionally conducted by the Christian churches on the dates the respective churches celebrate the birth of Christ). Islam reveres Jesus as the Messiah so Muslims and Christians have that in common - who knew?

[@kiloART]

I guess he wouldn't have seen any shephards in the field if he had visited bethlehem during christmas..... because Yeshua (Jesus) wasn't born in the winter. Probably was HE born during Tabernacles... anyway for sure in the autumn. GOD BLESS!

[@woodmason]

I attended the same seminary Brooks did. The seminary is very proud of his place in its history. However, he was not impressed with the seminary.

[@varon52]

Why, o why are whether pastors, hymn writers, etc., of days gone bye do not appear that happy???

[@suzannelacy8093]

I lived in Palestine over 50 years ago and witnessed the brutality of the Zionist Apartheid Jews . As a young naive Christian I wore appropriate clothing but I was treated badly by Jews' . My best memory is being in Bethlehem as it's so simple , beautiful and the hymn reflects that simplicity . Jerusalem , Nazareth , Galilee and the Negev desert were amazing but more dangerous for Christians . Thank you for your reminder. Peace to all .

[@mukundaneshepherdcrystal6544]

It’s unfortunate that the land where Jesus was born and raised has never recognized him as messiah. The Jews have been lost in religion and have rejected Christ. It’s really sad, knowing that Paul writes and says, they are not all Israel that are of Israel. It’s sad that they don’t know that in Christ there’s neither Greek nor Jew. Thank you for loving the Lord and standing the persecution. Peace for all❤

[@elizabethtaylor9242]

The “Zionist Apartheid Jews” were and are survivors of the Holocaust, the pogroms, the ghettos, and massacres in the Holy Land. They learned the hard way that Christians and Muslims are not necessarily their friends. They are, like the rest of us, a bunch of sinners, but the Bible tells us that God still loves them. God promised to bring them back to the land that is their homeland, covenanted to them by God himself; that they would return in unbelief, but God will meet them there: Zechariah 12:10 (NKJV) “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for [his] only [son,] and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. The fact that the Jewish people are back in the Holy Land is one major sign among many that Jesus is soon to return. Meanwhile: Zechariah 12:3 (KJV) And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. Therefore: Psalms 122:6-9 (KJV) 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. 7 Peace be within thy walls, [and] prosperity within thy palaces. 8 For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace [be] within thee. 9 Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good.

[@elizabethtaylor9242]

Btw Israel is NOT an apartheid state. The check points are there to keep out people carrying lethal weapons, not a particular race or religion. Arabs, Muslims and Christians are not excluded, unless they are engaged in violence against the people or the state. Israel is the ONLY Jewish state in the world, and it’s tiny. Its survival is miraculous.

[@amel2784]

Not apartheid. Arabs and others can live, work, eat, live and enjoy legal rights in Israel.

[@antoniavieira2794]

So sorry that you are against GOD'S LAND if you are a Christian It's so sad to see you are blind for the reality of the HOLY LAND they are not perfect far from that ,But what they been suffering at the hands of the terrorists around them ........😢😢😢Mam I have no words 🙏 🙏 and standing with ISRAEL 🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱❤️