What makes you weary? Bone tired? Drained? The holidays can bring out the best and the worst in us. We get busy with buying gifts and decorating that we become physically exhausted. Our focus is on the holiday parties and the food that our minds become overwhelmed and drained.
“O Holy Night” reminds us of our dear Savior’s birth. I want to focus our attention on just part of the first verse. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared, and the soul felt its worth, the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices.” You may understand these phrases without me breaking them down in the way I am about to do. But I want to challenge you to see them in a new light.
Honestly, I have sung this song most of my life and not given the words a second thought. That is until today. I am weary to the point of teary. Circumstances beyond my control (there’s a clue as to why I am so weary) have me stressed. To the point of sickness and sleeplessness. Today I heard the phrase “the weary world rejoices” in my head. And God spoke to me.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Before the birth of Christ, a priest had to make atonement for the sins of the people. You brought a sacrifice to the temple several times annually to cover your sins in the blood of the innocent and pure (without blemish) lamb. And yet, we lay in sin still; however, the price of our sin has been paid for once and for all. “Error pining” is just a weird phrase. Because of our sin, we long (pine) for something to fill the voice our sin creates. Our sin separates us from God. Our souls long for connection and that longing can only be satisfied by a connection with God.
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth
So, our souls were seeking a way to connect directly with God before Christ came into the world. Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save the utmost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Our soul found the way to connect with God through Christ. And in finding that connection, our soul found its worth—its purpose—its place.
The thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices
Once our soul finds its place in Christ there is a thrill of hope. Before Christ, hope was hard to find. Hebrews 6:19a (NIV) “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” In this verse we find God’s promises to His chosen people provide an anchor of hope for our soul. If we take these promises (God sent His Son to save us from our sins and eternal damnation) to heart, we have hope.
And with that hope we find reason to rejoice. In that hope of a life with Christ, we have joy. We have a joy that is long lasting. We may have difficulties through out our lives; however, we have a joy-filled hope that makes our souls want to sing.
So whenever you find yourself weary from the weight of this world, play “O Holy Night” and be reminded of the reason our souls finds its worth. Let your soul sing…
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