O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
O Holy Night
O Holy Night Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Hillsong's rendition of the beloved carol "O Holy Night" captures the profound significance of the Christmas story, presenting a timeless narrative through music. Released on November 28, 2018, as a part of their musical offerings, this version brings a contemporary expression to a classic hymn, inviting listeners into the awe and wonder of that pivotal night. The song opens by setting the scene under a sky filled with brightly shining stars, painting a picture of the night of the Saviour's birth. It reflects on the preceding state of the world, described as pining in sin and error, highlighting humanity's deep need for redemption. The arrival of Christ marks a turning point, described as the moment the Spirit felt its worth, igniting a thrill of hope that causes the weary world to rejoice. This dawn of a new and glorious morn is presented as a call to worship, urging listeners to fall on their knees and hear the angelic proclamation, celebrating the divine night when Christ was born. This opening stanza draws heavily on themes found in passages like Isaiah 9:2, which speaks of light coming to those living in darkness, and the angelic announcement in Luke 2:10-14, which brings tidings of great joy.
The narrative continues by describing the journey of faith led by the light, representing spiritual guidance and revelation. Believers are depicted standing by the manger, their hearts glowing with devotion. The star, a prominent symbol, is mentioned as sweetly gleaming over the world, guiding visitors. This refers to the account in Matthew 2:1-12, where wisemen from the Orient land are led by a star to find the newborn King. The lyrics emphasize the striking contrast between Christ's royal identity as the King of kings and His humble birthplace in a lowly manger. This profound truth of the Incarnation—God becoming man—underscores His purpose: born to be our friend in all our trials. The song affirms His intimate knowledge of human need and weakness, presenting Him not as a distant ruler but as one who understands the human condition. The call to behold the King and humbly bow before Him reinforces the theme of worship in response to His arrival and nature, reflecting the reverence shown by the wisemen and the ultimate sovereignty of Christ.
The third stanza moves beyond the birth event to reflect on Christ's teachings and the impact of His redemptive work. It states that He taught humanity to love one another, summarizing His core commandment found in John 13:34-35. His law is presented as love, and His gospel as peace, aligning with New Testament teachings on the nature of God's kingdom and the message of reconciliation. The song declares the liberating power of Christ, stating that He shall break chains and oppression shall cease in His name. This speaks to the spiritual freedom found in Christ (John 8:36) and the hope for justice and transformation inherent in His reign. The response of believers is depicted as raising sweet hymns of joy and gratefully praising His holy name with all their hearts. The conclusion serves as a powerful declaration: "Christ is the Lord!" followed by an exultation to continually praise Him and proclaim His power and glory forevermore. This concluding section encapsulates the Christian call to worship and proclamation, echoing passages like Psalm 150, which exhorts all creation to praise the Lord for His mighty acts and excellent greatness. Hillsong's musical arrangement of this classic hymn provides a contemporary avenue for expressing these timeless biblical truths about the birth, life, and saving work of Jesus Christ, resonating with listeners seeking hope and inspiration during the Christmas season.
