I love worship music. At one time in my life it was the primary love language I used to speak to God. In recent years that spot has been overtaken by prayer and the Word of God, but I still love worship music. I’m not one to rush to Christmas and like so many others it sets my teeth on edge to enter a store in September and see decorations and hear music that has nothing to do with Fall and everything to do with Christmas. At that point it seems more like the time to bow to the almighty dollar is right around the corner instead of a time to contemplate and celebrate this great love of God for us. That said, at the end of September I can count on beginning to practice choir music for our Christmas celebration at church. I enter into this with relish because the songs so early in the season begin to frame my heart and mind for awe and joy at the condescension of God to come and dwell with man.

This year there is one song in particular that powerfully touches me and draws me into worship. We will be presenting the Christmas worship music of “Joy of Every Longing Heart” arranged by Travis Cottrell. This music is a worship setting and tells the story of the great healing and saving work of God in Christ.  The song that so powerfully speaks my heart is a simple lullaby “Sleep Now, Little Child”. The story of that song is presented from a prescient Mary, a Mary who knows what is coming and chooses to fully live and savor this moment with her sweet baby.

The song is musical genius. It has the sweet winsomeness of a lullaby wrapped in the mournful timbre of a minor key. I completely enter in to the deep love of a mother for her newborn experienced by a young woman who knows that ‘sorrow will pierce her heart also’. Her desire to fully experience the moment is colored by her mourning and then exalted by lifting her eyes to her Lord and declaring “My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord, He has done great things!”  I so resonate with that ‘determined to praise God no matter what’ attitude. Finally, the song comes to an end, a sorrow-wrapped surrender, sad but sweet. And then there is a swell and crescendo as Mary speaks forth her mangnifcat again “My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord, He has done great things!” I feel that fullness of love held within a complete and determined surrender to the purposes and glory of God. Beautiful, sad, glorious – it is the power of love that goes beyond the moment to trust in an overall plan beyond our comprehension. It is the deep soul knowledge that all will be restored in eternity and be even more than can be thought or imagined.

In this song and in Mary’s story I see every person. Our moments of deepest joy are loaded with sorrow we can’t yet grasp. But even our moments of the most compassing sorrow overflow with joy unspeakable.  Our relationship with God, our praise in all circumstances, is the place where sorrow and joy meet and joy becomes our eternal home.

SLEEP NOW, LITTLE CHILD
By Sue C. Smith, David Moffitt and Kip Fox

Sleep now, little Child, rest Your head upon Your mother’s shoulder
Close Your little eyes, Your father’s here, and he will keep you safe
While the whole world waits for You to wake up

Sleep now, little Child, let the song of angels be Your cover
This night You are mine, and I will hold You till the break of day
While the whole world waits for You to save us

My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!
My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!

Oh my soul, magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!
Oh, my soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!

Sleep now little Child, soon the weight will be upon Your shoulders
There’s so little time, I won’t let this moment slip away
For the whole world waits to see You raised up
Mmmmm, Hoooo

My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!
My soul magnifies the Lord, magnifies the Lord
He has done great things!

Sleep now little Child, rest Your head upon Your mother’s shoulder
Close Your little eyes, Your father’s here, and he will keep you safe
While the whole world waits for You to wake up
Ummmm, Hoooo, Oh