God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

“God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” is one of the most famous and most theologically rich Christmas carols in existence. For 500 years, these classic lyrics and catchy tune of this song have enthralled Christmas celebrants.

Here are the lyrics:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

Let nothing you dismay

Remember, Christ, our Saviour

Was born on Christmas day

To save us all from Satan’s power

When we were gone astray

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel

This blessed Babe was born

And laid within a manger

Upon this blessed morn

The which His Mother Mary

Did nothing take in scorn

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

THE SONG’S STORY

We know little about where this song came from. Of all the carols still being sung today, this is one of the oldest—dating back to before the 16th century. Charles Dickens even mentions the song in his classic 1843 story, A Christmas Carol.

THE BIBLICAL CONNECTION

We’re told in the first verse that Christ was born on Christmas Day to save us all from Satan’s power. That’s a potent theological thought for churches to consider during this season.

The Bible says it like this: “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8b).

All throughout the Bible, we read about Jesus wrecking the devil’s works. Every time he resisted temptation, healed an illness, or cast a demon out of a person, he made a mockery out of the devil. Of course, the ultimate example of this came at the cross, where he devastated the devil’s plans and destined him for destruction in a powerful display of triumph.

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him” (Colossians 2:13-15).

The rulers and authorities opened themselves to the reproach of God the moment they hung Jesus on the cross, and yet the Savior born in Bethlehem knew that he had to to forfeit his innocence life for our salvation. His shame became our comfort and joy based on the grounds that the cross of Christ perfected and redeemed those who were enslaved to the devil. Christ triumph over his adversaries and frees those who trust in him from oppression and bondage. This is why we sing...

THE SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS

O tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy

So I’ll repeat it again...

God rest ye merry, gentlemen

How can I be assured that God desires me to possess comfort and joy in this life?

Hear what the Psalmist says when those who are with God.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear through the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, through its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble a it swelling. Shelah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth; He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariot with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress Selah (Psalm 46:1-11)

Our comfort and joy exists because Jesus invaded the kingdom of darkness and took us home. He is our refuge and strength and our response is as the Lord commands, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

When the Saviors saves, the least we can do is be in awe of him. To slow down and remain silent before the presence of God. We can go before him because Satan has no dominion over us.

What if this week, we embraces rest in Jesus and lived an unhurried life of fidelity. What could that possibly like like in our lives

Sabbath (to set apart one day a week for rest and worship of God)

Silence (to free myself from the addiction to and distractions of noise so I can totally present to the Lord; to open myself to God in places beyond words)

Submission (to have Jesus as Master of my life in absolutely every way)

When you live this way, you are reminded of the comfort and joy that comes with being with Christ.

Live with complete comfort and joy for Jesus saved you.