"O Night Divine"

I had one of those "aha" moments in worship this morning.

We sang "Oh Holy Night", blending the last words ("O night divine") with the beginning of Chris Tomlin's "How Great is Our God" ("The splendor of the king/Clothed in majesty/Let all the earth rejoice"...).

I wondered - "Why was the night divine?" Christians aren't superstitious ... we don't believe, like the pagans, that the Winter Solstice is a magical night. We don't elevate something of creation to the status of "divine". So why do we sing "O Night Divine" ... why is it a "Silent Night, Holy Night".

Suddenly I realized - there was nothing inherently special about whatever night Jesus was born (Dec. 25/Jan. 6/sometime in the spring - take your pick). It really seemed like just another night in Bethlehem ... just another family needing a place to rest ... just another overtaxed couple ... just another pregnant woman ready to walk normally again. Everything was utterly ... ordinary ... and yet, we honor this night 2000 years later as inexplicably extraordinary. Why?

The night was holy, divine, extraordinary - because it was filled with His presence. He, who had no stately form or majesty to commend Himself to us (Isa. 53:2), nonetheless manifested the presence of God among us. God in the flesh, "pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel" (from "Hark the Herald Angels Sing"). The miracle of the incarnation made the ordinary, extraordinary. It made a manger the Holy of Holies. The transformation of Christmas from a night like any other to a night so special that even unbelievers find "magic" in it ... reflects the transformation that God can bring into our lives through His incarnate Son. The Word was made flesh to dwell among us ... and we beheld His glory. We, in our sinfulness, beheld God in the flesh. Born to die so we could live, so we could come to His altar of sacrifice and be made holy - just as any sacrifice that touched the ancient Israelite altars was made holy (Ex. 29:37).

If you're struggling with the "holiday spirit" ... if it all has become so ordinary ... if the materialism is too much for you this year - then I challenge you to focus on the extraordinary. Focus on the transformation of just another night into a "night divine", a "holy night" ... all because God was "pleased as man with men to dwell."

Jesus, our Emmanuel. God with us. O come, let us adore Him, indeed.