The Third Day of Christmas

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (arr. Mark Hayes)

“God Make You Strong, Gentlemen,” is the intended meaning of this English carol. “Rest” was intended to mean “make” in 18th century England and “merry men” were strong men. The lyrics were to reflect that Christ’s incarnation was not something to be fearful of (“Fear not,” the angel said), but it was good news, and the word was the same word for “good news” that was used in association with God’s covenants with Abraham, Moses and David, His promise to save sinners, and His gospel promise in Genesis 3:15 that the seed of the woman (Jesus) would crush the head of Satan. And so the carol goes: “to save us all from Satan’s power.” This good news was/is for all people and was realized in Christ’s birth, life, death and resurrection, and is enough to make us strong and no longer fearful.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. – Luke 2:8-20

God rest you merry, gentlemen,
let nothing you dismay,
remember Christ our Savior
was born on Christmas day,
to save us all from Satan’s pow’r
when we were gone astray;

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heav’nly Father,
a blessed angel came;
and unto certain shepherds
brought tidings of the same:
how that in Bethlehem was born
the son of God by name.

“Fear not, then,” said the angel,
“let nothing you affright;
this day is born a Savior
of a pure virgin bright,
to free all those who trust in him
from Satan’s pow’r and might.”

The shepherds at those tidings
rejoiced much in mind,
and left their flocks a-feeding,
in tempest, storm, and wind,
and went to Bethlehem straightway,
the Son of God to find.

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