In the Bible, an individual named David was described as "a man after God's own heart". He was also a prolific writer who wrote numerous psalms tot he glory of God. My post today comes from another man named David who was moved of God to pen a modern day psalm.
It all began with Joseph T. Bayly, who himself was a prolific author, well known publishing executive, and President of David C. Cook Publishing Company at the time of his passing.
In this generation, two of Joseph's sons, David and his brother Tim, are both Presbyterian Church in America pastors in the United States. They each have the same gift of communicating that their father was once given. These days, the Bayly brothers are known far and wide for their own writings, which can be found online at http://baylyblog.com/.
Their blog post for December 24, 2009 is a masterful piece of reflection for Christians on this most holy of nights. It is titled “A Psalm for Christmas Eve”. Fittingly, I post it here on Christmas Eve.
Praise God for Christmas
Praise Him for the Incarnation
for Word made flesh.
I will not sing
of shepherds watching flocks
on frosty night
or angel choristers
I will not sing
of stable bare in Bethlehem
or lowing oxen
wise men
trailing distant star
with gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing
praise to the Father
Who stood on Heaven’s threshold
and said farewell to His Son
as He stepped across the stars
to Bethlehem
and Jerusalem.
And I will sing
praise to the infinite eternal Son
Who became most finite
a Baby
who would one day be executed
for my crimes.
Praise Him in the heavens.
Praise Him in the stable.
Praise Him in my heart.
And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
SOURCE: This piece available online at the Bayly brothers' web site at: http://baylyblog.com/blog/2009/12/psalm-christmas-eve. Originally printed in “Psalms of My Life”, Christianity Today Magazine, Vol. 33, no. 18.
It all began with Joseph T. Bayly, who himself was a prolific author, well known publishing executive, and President of David C. Cook Publishing Company at the time of his passing.
In this generation, two of Joseph's sons, David and his brother Tim, are both Presbyterian Church in America pastors in the United States. They each have the same gift of communicating that their father was once given. These days, the Bayly brothers are known far and wide for their own writings, which can be found online at http://baylyblog.com/.
Their blog post for December 24, 2009 is a masterful piece of reflection for Christians on this most holy of nights. It is titled “A Psalm for Christmas Eve”. Fittingly, I post it here on Christmas Eve.
Praise God for Christmas
Praise Him for the Incarnation
for Word made flesh.
I will not sing
of shepherds watching flocks
on frosty night
or angel choristers
I will not sing
of stable bare in Bethlehem
or lowing oxen
wise men
trailing distant star
with gold and frankincense and myrrh.
Tonight I will sing
praise to the Father
Who stood on Heaven’s threshold
and said farewell to His Son
as He stepped across the stars
to Bethlehem
and Jerusalem.
And I will sing
praise to the infinite eternal Son
Who became most finite
a Baby
who would one day be executed
for my crimes.
Praise Him in the heavens.
Praise Him in the stable.
Praise Him in my heart.
And all of God’s people said, “Amen!”
SOURCE: This piece available online at the Bayly brothers' web site at: http://baylyblog.com/blog/2009/12/psalm-christmas-eve. Originally printed in “Psalms of My Life”, Christianity Today Magazine, Vol. 33, no. 18.