And she brought forth her firstborn
son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because
there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)
Thou didst Leave thy
Throne and thy Kingly Crown
Thou didst leave
thy throne and thy kingly crown,
when thou camest
to earth for me;
but in Bethlehem's
home was there found no room
for thy holy
nativity.
Refrain:
O come to my
heart, Lord Jesus,
there is room in
my heart for thee.
Heaven's arches
rang when the angels sang,
proclaiming thy
royal degree;
but of lowly birth
didst thou come to earth,
and in great
humility. Refrain
The foxes found
rest, and the birds their nest
in the shade of
the forest tree;
but thy couch was
the sod, O thou Son of God,
in the deserts of
Galilee. Refrain
Thou camest, O
Lord, with the living word
that should set
thy children free;
but with mocking scorn
and with crown of thorn,
they bore thee to
Calvary. Refrain
When the heavens
shall ring, and the angels sing,
at thy coming to
victory,
let thy voice call
me home, saying "Yet there is room,
there is room at
my side for thee." Refrain
I owe the impetus to explore and write about this hymn to the urgings of the
accomplished organist at the Church of the Faithful Centurion, Miss Marianne
Lane, in Descanso, California. It is good she brought it to my attention for
this Christmas hymn is too often neglected and forgotten for reasons unknown to
me. Perhaps the reason is that this hymn is not included in the
recommended Hymns and Carols of the hymnal to be sung in accordance with the
lectionary; however, this hymn expresses the perfect sentiments with which I
will conclude my Christmas hymn devotions. The hymn may not seem
traditional for the season, but it fits perfectly the purpose of Christmas -
"Christ came down at Christmas" and, for most of the world,
there was no room for Him.
This hymn was composed by Elizabeth Steele Elliott in 1864 - sister of
Charlotte Elliott, author of "Just as I Am.". It is most commonly
sung to the tune, 'Margaret.' It was the first sung at her
father's church, St. Mark's Church, Brighton, England.
"Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne" has a depth of meaning
that transcends the Church Season of Christmas and is intended to range the
full life of Christ from birth to Calvary. Instead of teaching her Sunday
School children the fables of Christmas, Miss Elliott desired that they learn
the true meaning of the Season - that it was all about Christ and the wonderful
benefits His Coming made available to us all. She desired that the youth know
the entire life and mission of Christ. As she studied Luke 2:7, the content of
the hymn began to form in her heart, first, and then her mind. The first and
second stanzas relate to the beauty and circumstances of Christ's birth, and
the third relates to His role as itinerant preacher of Truth. The fourth stanza
describes the rejection and humiliation Christ bore for us all the way to
Calvary. The fifth, of course, points to that day, known only to God the
Father, when Christ shall return with power and majesty to claim the final
victory for His people.
"Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown,when thou camest
to earth for me; but in Bethlehem's home was there found no room for thy holy
nativity." It amazes me that in olden days, hymns
written for little children contained strong doctrine and truth. Today, most of
our shameless ministers consider even those children's hymns written decades
ago to be 'above the heads' of adults! If such hymns are above our heads, we
should grow taller! Christ left a glorious home to come, in an immeasurable
love, to where we are (on earth) to save us from Satan's power. He came as a
little baby, and was born to poor and common circumstances. There was no
presumption to being born in a stable and being laid in a manger - nothing of
which to boast. That is the way He intended it. He came to His own
people, but His own people had no room for Him in suitable lodgings. As an
outcast, His mother, Mary, was referred to the stable yard - the same that had
given birth to lambs and goats, and cattle of all sorts. There was no
room in the Inn for Jesus and, sadly, no room in many hearts for those to whom
He came bearing riches in love and sacrifice.
"Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming thy royal
degree; but of lowly birth didst thou come to earth, and in great humility."
In every stage of His life and ministry, Jesus set the perfect example for us.
The Angels of Heaven filled the arches of Heaven in singing in chorus and glad
joy at His birth; yet, no one of royal family (except the Child) saw. No one of
wealth and opulence was on the hillsides overlooking Bethlehem to witness this
wonderful event - it was only poor shepherds of the lowest estate who were
privileged to be in the divine audience. His birth was humble, His parents were
humble, the shepherds were humble, and even the cattle were reverent in their
lowing. Nothing such as this had ever occurred, or will ever again occur, in
the annals of the world.
Not
only was our Lord humble in His birth, but in His life as well. "The
foxes found rest, and the birds their nest in the shade of the forest tree; but
thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God, in the deserts of Galilee."
What amazing love constrains the Mighty God and Everlasting Father to reduce
Himself to the poorest straits of humanity! He was often known to retire to the
open elements of the mountain to pray while men slept comfortably in their beds
at night . "53 And every man went unto his own house."
(John 7:53) "1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And
early in the morning he came again into the temple." (John 8:1-2)
He forsook the ivory and alabaster halls of Heaven to walk the dusty roads of
Galilee and Judah. He barely owned the simple garments that He wore. He had
neither home, nor beast of burden, nor sea vessel, nor script. Jesus was
precisely ALL that He seemed to be, and that was greater in wealth than the
cattle on a thousand hills.
Christ was humble, as a Lamb led to the slaughter (which Lamb He was), in
death. "Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set
thy children free;but with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn, they bore
thee to Calvary." Not only did Christ come with the Living
Word to set us free; Christ WAS, Himself, that Living WORD! "In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The
same was in the beginning with God." (John 1:1-2) He is that
WORD upon which we feed as the Bread of Life, as well as the Water of Life:
"I am the bread of life: he that cometh
to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35) Jesus was perfectly righteous
and modest in His dress. Please imagine the humiliation of such a lovely
gentleman being stripped naked in public and nailed to a cross. He could have
refused such humiliation at any point, yet He endured for the sake of an
unfathomable love for you and me.
Jesus was humble in birth, in life, and in death: however, the day is destined
to come when He shall return - not as a humble Child lying in a manger- but as
Captain of the Hosts of Heaven riding a white charger with all the Armies of
Heaven in trail. That will be a most wonderful day for the saved of God, but
one of horror and ruin for those who have rejected the Lord of Glory. "When
the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing, at thy coming to victory, let thy
voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room, there is room at my side
for thee." Those same mighty Angels whose voices thundered
over the hills and pastures of Bethlehem 2,013 years ago shall again ring out
in wondrous chorus over the heavens. Not only will poor shepherds witness this
event, but every human being that has ever lived - rich, poor, righteous, or
wicked. Only those who have heard, and heeded, the Voice of the Lord in life
will hear the voice of the Lord at His return when He invites them to come into
His Kingdom. You will recall the words of James Black in his wonderful hymn:
"When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no
more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth
shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be
there." That will be the glorious day for which all of Scripture
has prepared the people of God.
I have omitted to remark on the refrain to this wonderful Christmas hymn until
the last since its application is eternal. "O come to my heart,
Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee." Have
you made this profession, and not in vain. Have you welcomed Christ into your
heart even while the world around ridicules and rejects Him? We do not prepare
a place in our hearts for Christ, for He will enter in there and vanquish every
devil and evil spirit from those chambers of love. He will make the heart NEW
and able to abide His presence. Does Christ, who is at the right hand of the
Father, have a forwarding address to the very rooms of your own heart? If not,
better make your salvation sure today at Christmastide.
