On the Seventh Day of Christmas....
Song: The First Noel
Artist: David Archuleta
What is the meaning of the word Noel? According to this website, it reads: In French, joyeux noel means “Merry Christmas.” Our modern English word comes from the Middle English nowel, which Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defined as “a shout of joy or Christmas song.” The roots of the word are the French noel (“Christmas season”), which may come from the Old French nael. This, in turn, is derived from the Latin natalis, meaning “birth.” Since Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, it was natural for people to refer to the celebration as the “nativity” or the “birth.”
In short, Noel means "birth"-day which would make the first Noel the first birthday! At least of the Savior's, the most important birthday in the world! So, when we sing this beautiful carol, think of it as singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus Christ!
For some reason, I have always loved thinking about the Shepherds at Christmas time. Shepherds were just ordinary people going about their jobs, "keeping watch over their flocks by night." (Luke 2:8) They were poor and lowly. Perhaps that helped them to be humble. Perhaps that is why the angels appeared to them, to bring tidings of great joy. I also reflect on the attitudes and actions of the shepherds. What it must have been like to see angels, glorious, heavenly and bright singing praises! Can you imagine hearing a chorus of angels!? That would probably be the most beautiful sound in the entire world! But, it is understandable why they felt "sore afraid" (Luke 2:9) at the sight. It would be overwhelming and intimidating. I try to imagine what I would do and how I would feel to see and hear the message from the angels. The next thing the shepherds did though, after receiving the "glad tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10), the birth of the Savior, was go. They followed the instructions of the angels and went to see him for themselves. The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15). And I love when it says "And they came with haste, and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." They came with haste. They went directly after receiving the news from the angels. They didn't procrastinate, or debate amongst themselves if it was worth the journey, distance or time. They didn't say "We'll go, but after we do this and this and this first. They went with haste. That phrase inspires me to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ with haste. To read and study and ponder more upon his word. To stop procrastinating or putting other things before him.
The next verse is also inspiring as it reads "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." To me, the shepherds were some of the first "proselyting missionaries." As soon as they came to know the Christ child (so to speak) for themselves (aka gained a testimony) they went among their friends, families, neighbors, etc. and spread the good news.
I love the shepherds. I love the image of the shepherds on the hill, seeing the angels. Worshiping the the baby Jesus. Bringing him their humble gifts. Other songs that come to mind when I think of the shepherds include:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (See Luke 2:8-12, 15-18, 20).
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
And they looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Born is the King of Israel
*I also love the song from The Forgotten Carols called The Shepherd (You Were Not There in Bethlehem). It's about a shepherd who fell asleep and missed the angels and going to see the Christ child. He listens to his friends account of the baby Jesus and comes to believe for himself, even without seeing for himself. We can relate to this shepherd/song because we have not seen Him, but we believe that he really was here. And that he will come again.
**Also, Pentatonix's version of The First Noel is beautiful!
Artist: David Archuleta
What is the meaning of the word Noel? According to this website, it reads: In French, joyeux noel means “Merry Christmas.” Our modern English word comes from the Middle English nowel, which Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defined as “a shout of joy or Christmas song.” The roots of the word are the French noel (“Christmas season”), which may come from the Old French nael. This, in turn, is derived from the Latin natalis, meaning “birth.” Since Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ, it was natural for people to refer to the celebration as the “nativity” or the “birth.”
In short, Noel means "birth"-day which would make the first Noel the first birthday! At least of the Savior's, the most important birthday in the world! So, when we sing this beautiful carol, think of it as singing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus Christ!
For some reason, I have always loved thinking about the Shepherds at Christmas time. Shepherds were just ordinary people going about their jobs, "keeping watch over their flocks by night." (Luke 2:8) They were poor and lowly. Perhaps that helped them to be humble. Perhaps that is why the angels appeared to them, to bring tidings of great joy. I also reflect on the attitudes and actions of the shepherds. What it must have been like to see angels, glorious, heavenly and bright singing praises! Can you imagine hearing a chorus of angels!? That would probably be the most beautiful sound in the entire world! But, it is understandable why they felt "sore afraid" (Luke 2:9) at the sight. It would be overwhelming and intimidating. I try to imagine what I would do and how I would feel to see and hear the message from the angels. The next thing the shepherds did though, after receiving the "glad tidings of great joy" (Luke 2:10), the birth of the Savior, was go. They followed the instructions of the angels and went to see him for themselves. The shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. (Luke 2:15). And I love when it says "And they came with haste, and found Mary, Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger." They came with haste. They went directly after receiving the news from the angels. They didn't procrastinate, or debate amongst themselves if it was worth the journey, distance or time. They didn't say "We'll go, but after we do this and this and this first. They went with haste. That phrase inspires me to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ with haste. To read and study and ponder more upon his word. To stop procrastinating or putting other things before him.
The next verse is also inspiring as it reads "And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child." To me, the shepherds were some of the first "proselyting missionaries." As soon as they came to know the Christ child (so to speak) for themselves (aka gained a testimony) they went among their friends, families, neighbors, etc. and spread the good news.
I love the shepherds. I love the image of the shepherds on the hill, seeing the angels. Worshiping the the baby Jesus. Bringing him their humble gifts. Other songs that come to mind when I think of the shepherds include:
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| Angels We Have Heard On High |
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| It Came Upon A Midnight Clear |
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| Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains |
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| Infant Holy, Infant Lowly |
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. (See Luke 2:8-12, 15-18, 20).
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
And they looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Born is the King of Israel
*I also love the song from The Forgotten Carols called The Shepherd (You Were Not There in Bethlehem). It's about a shepherd who fell asleep and missed the angels and going to see the Christ child. He listens to his friends account of the baby Jesus and comes to believe for himself, even without seeing for himself. We can relate to this shepherd/song because we have not seen Him, but we believe that he really was here. And that he will come again.
**Also, Pentatonix's version of The First Noel is beautiful!
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