Christmas 2024: December 19

Our hymns are full of rich and meaningful theology, and some are even more meaningful when we understand the context in which they were written. In fact, researching the history and background of hymns is one of my personal favorite studies. Some hymns, though, we know very little, if anything about, as is the case with today's hymn, "The Birthday of a King." What we do know is that it was written by William Neidlinger, born in Brooklyn during the high water mark of the American Civil War in July 1863. Neidlinger grew up to be a world-renowned vocalist and musician and published today's hymn in 1890. Beyond that, there is no record of what motivated him to write. Some have speculated that Neidlinger was inspired by our Scripture reading for today in Micah 5, or perhaps even Jeremiah 23:5, which says, "Behold, the days are coming declares Yahweh, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land."

Beyond the context of "The Birthday of a King," we know that Neidlinger had a special compassion for children (he'd later abandon music altogether and build an orphanage and school for abandoned children) and wrote a volume of children's songs titled, "Small Songs for Small Singers" in 1896. "The Birthday of a King" does not appear in the book as the songs in it are more akin to nursery rhymes, but it seems probable that Neidlinger still had children in mind when he wrote this short hymn, still beloved by many.

Micah 5 begins with an incredibly grim picture of judgment and siege. Israel's leaders were utterly humiliated ("with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek") by a siege by the Assyrians, culminating in their fall and the near-complete destruction of Jerusalem in 701 BC under King Sennacherib (2 Kings 18-19). They were disgraced, and Judah was soon to follow. Clearly, there was a need for Divine intervention, but it was because of Israel's disobedience that they had fallen in the first place. The stage was set for grace.

During a time of despair and darkness, the prophet Micah turns to a message of hope with the promise of restoration. A King would be born in the seemingly small and insignificant town of Bethlehem. Though it was the city of David, it was nevertheless a humble and unexpected place for God to choose as the central place for Him to fulfill His promise of a Messiah and eternal King. That is

But God always acts in unexpected ways, using the humble and lowly for His glory, and, as it turns out, that Christ would be born in Bethlehem was His plan "from old, from ancient days." In eternity past, God sovereignly decreed that a Ruler would shepherd His people in strength, security, and peace. 

In the little village of Bethlehem,
There lay a Child one day,
And the sky was bright with a holy light
O'er the place where Jesus lay.

Refrain:
Alleluia! O how the angels sang.
Alleluia! How it rang!
And the sky was bright with a holy light,
'Twas the birthday of a King.

'Twas a humble birth-place, but O how much
God gave to us that day,
From the manger bed what a path has led,
What a perfect, holy way.

Refrain