Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Isaiah 40:9

Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God.”

For twelve years I lived in the mountains of southwest Virginia. I served as pastor of the Pearisburg Presbyterian Church. As December approached, we often wondered would we be able to hold our Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols. It was not uncommon to have snow on the ground, but we were concerned about those traveling snowy and icy roads and of our older members’ safety: getting out at night when walkways could be slippery and lighting was better during the day than at night. Even with snow we did not cancel the Christmas Eve service, but our attendance was often slim. We wanted to sing the carols, to tell the good news and to do our part: to proclaim that Jesus Christ is born.

The highest mountain in our area was Angels’ Rest, which is part of the Appalachian Trail. The prophet Isaiah foretells the coming of Judah’s God in celestial grandeur. The mountains of Zion and Jerusalem are to be heralds of this good news to the cities of Judah, long before Christ is born.

Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.
Down in a lowly manger the humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation that blessed Christmas morn.
Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere;
Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.

Nativity stanzas have been set into this African American Spiritual and from mountaintops to echoing in the valleys the good news of Jesus’ birth is to be told everywhere.

Prayer

O Lord, we thank You for Jesus and for the Christmas season, ever remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season. In His name, we pray. Amen.