Hi, everyone! I’m Jenny, I’m from Long Island and I’m a senior at SUNY Cortland! I’m so excited to be a part of this devotional!
Let’s be real, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen isn’t exactly the happiest sounding Christmas song – but there is so much history and meaning to this beautiful hymn!
God rest ye 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
Oh tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Oh tidings of comfort and joy!
This song is often misunderstood because at the time that it was written, the words “rest” and “merry” had very different meanings than we know of them today. “Rest” meant to make or keep, and “merry” meant great or mighty, so this song was really sung as, “God make you mighty, gentlemen!” The minor, dark, and somber notes of the song fit the music of the 15th century church but the lyrics spoke of the joyous birth of Jesus Christ.
Sure, we can rest easy in knowing our Savior was born and is alive today, but we can also be strong in joy in knowing we’ve been saved from the power of the enemy! There is nothing that you can’t face because God has made you mighty through the birth of His Son.
Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)
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.”
Philippians 4:13 (ESV)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I hope you have yourselves a merry and a mighty Christmas!
(Pentatonix sings the best cover of this song, check it out!) 🙂