Christmas and Advent Hymns and their Story

“On Christmas Night all Christians Sing”

The earliest of this carol is found in a 1684 book by Luke Wadding of Wexford, Ireland. It was written during a time, when, in Ireland there was a good deal of anger directed at the Christian Church – both Catholic and Protestant [a very sad time in history].
On Christmas night all Christians gather to hear the Angles spread the News of the birth of Jesus. No greater joy exists for God’s subjects, even in slavery and hurt, for His incarnation begins the fulfillment of God’s eternal plan for the purchase of their redemption. Verses 2-3 give us our reasons for joy in tribulation, as Christ comes to redeem, set free, and liberate us from the bonds of the devil. The Good News of Christ’s incarnation is something into which even the angels long to look as we are told in 1st Peter 1:12 – “It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.”
In verse four, the dark sky that startled the shepherds and sheep is the blazing light of the angels. We who walked in darkness are now led by the Light of Christ, come to us, “On Christmas Night”.

On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring,
On Christmas night all Christians sing to hear the news the angels bring,
News of great joy, news of great mirth, news of our merciful King’s birth.

LSB 377