Christmas 2024: December 18

December 18th, 2024
by Matt Tarr

Once in Royal David's City

Scripture: Psalm 2:6-12
Hymn: Once in Royal David's City

"Once in Royal David's City" is another hymn that was originally intended to teach children the nativity story, first published in 1848 by Cecil Alexander (then Humphrey - she married tow years later to an Irish pastor) in "Hymns for Little Children." Besides "Once in Royal David's City," Alexander published a number of hymns and poems, but "Once in Royal David's City" is the most well-known. It was set to music in 1849 by John Gauntlett, and for the last ninety-five years, it has been the first song sung in the annual "Carol for King's" service at King's College Chapel in Cambridge. Unfortunately, this tradition is becoming increasingly unpopular since the lyrics are considered "insensitive" for a 21st-century audience. Maybe so, but it is certainly the message the world needs to hear!

In verse 1, Mary is depicted as "mild," rather than "empowered," and "mild" hardly fits with proudly proclaiming her elevated status as a warrior for human rights and the poor. Then, in verse 2, the Christ child is said to come for the "poor," "mean," and "lowly." Since the world does not know Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God..." this too is offensive for the same reason it offended the Pharisees that Christ would eat with sinners and tax collectors (cf. Matt 9:9-15); Mk 2:14-17; Lk 5:27-32).

Perhaps in addition to reminding us of the humility of Christ's birth, "Once in Royal David's City" also serves as an important reminder of the world's animosity toward the foolishness of the message we preach. According to Psalm 2, the world seeks to overthrow the King of kings, as today's "social-emotional well-being experts" do, rather than pay homage due Him.

But who will conquer the nations

The world will not always know Christ as the gentle and lowly child in a manger. Even as He sits on the throne in heaven, as the final verse of "Once in Royal David's City describes, He waits for His glorious return. Until then, the nations are called to cease their rebellion against the Anointed One. He is patient and longsuffering, but when He returns, He will bring the judgment described in verse 9. To be sure, the sovereign, anointed King will be victorious, and the security of God's eternal promise is so secure they can be spoken of as having already been accomplished (cf. vs. 6) - including His dominion over the nations. We should, therefore, not only anticipate His return but rejoice with reverential trembling as we worship the Son! Joy will be found for those who take refuge in Him.

Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and His shelter was a stable,
and His cradle was a stall:
with the poor, and meek, and lowly,
lived on earth our Savior holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,
through His own redeeming love;
for that Child so dear and gentle
is our Lord in heav'n above,
and He leads His children on
to the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see Him, but in heaven,
set at God’s right hand on high;
when like stars His children crowned
all in white shall wait around.