THE FIRST NOEL (#30 in 1940 Church Hymnal), a Christmas Hymn for 23 December 2024 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men. 15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Beth-lehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Gospel of St Luke 2:14-20
This is another beautiful hymn that we can ascribe to the Holy Spirit since no other author is known (the hymn writer being anonymous). Noel (or O.E. Nowell) is derived from the French for both Good News (bonnes nouvelles ) and birth day (natalis nouvelles). Of course, combining the two terms, the title fits perfectly to the “Good tidings of Great Joy” shared by the Angels at the birth of the Savior. This hymn was first published in 1833 with its present tune, Nowell, Nowell.
THE FIRST NOEL
1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.
Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.
2 They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]
3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]
4 This star drew nigh to the northwest;
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]
5 Then entered in those wise men three,
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence
their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. [Refrain]
6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]
1 The first Nowell the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. This beautifully expressive Christmas hymn relates the silent beauty of that first Christmas more than two thousand years ago. It is based on the Christmas story of the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 2. This was the first Noel, or first coming, of the Lord Jesus Christ. The reference to the first implies the certainty of a second coming as well. We read from Luke 2: 8 “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” These shepherds were the poorest of the common society in the days of that first Christmas. Many were very young and could only tend sheep to live – others were elderly and labored for the same reason. No one saw the Light of the Angel except these poor shepherds, and many who consider themselves righteous today may not see that Light of Christ either. The simple faith of the shepherds opened the doors of Heaven to them for a sacred glimpse.
2 They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Perhaps it might have been the Star of Bethlehem that first attracted their interest, but that which came sooner was the glittering Light of a Heavenly Being which spoke from the Glory Cloud. The Star of Bethlehem would lead the gentile Magi to the Baby Jesus sometime later.
3 And by the light of that same star three wise men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went. The Angel first announced the birth of Christ to the poor Jewish shepherds. But, later, the gentile Magi also came to behold Him as Lord and King. This reflects the truth of Paul’s claim in Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (gentiles). The Magi were likely the Zoroastrian priests of Persia whose scholarly studies of the Hebrews led them to keep vigil for the Star.
4 This star drew nigh to the northwest; o’er Bethlehem it took its rest, and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay. It seems likely that this heavenly body began its journey long before in the density of deep space. The prophecy of its coming was foretold by Balaam. “I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17 There are reports of sightings of such a strange heavenly body by both Korean and Chinese observers around 4 B.C. To them, it was unlike any other star or comet in its behavior. Its movement was a steady east to west.
5 Then entered in those wise men three, full reverently upon their knee, and offered there in his presence their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense. The coming of the Wise Men (Magi) combines the Christmas event with that of Epiphany at which time the eyes of the gentiles were opened to the hope of a Savior. This latter coming of the wise Men occurred up to two years after the actual birth of Christ according to many credible sources. It was for this reason that Herod inquired of the time of the Magis’ siting of the Star. Whatever answer was given convinced Herod to have all infants up to the age of two years to be slain in Bethlehem. It is amazing that Herod acted with full knowledge of the ancient prophecies of the Lord’s coming. The gifts of the wise men were also prophetic – Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh. Gold represented royalty, Frankincense stood for divinity (worthy of worship), and the Myrrh for the gloom of death in anointing the body.
6 Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heavenly Lord, that hath made heaven and earth of nought, and with his blood our life hath bought. Perhaps it is this last verse that convinces the modern compromising church to avoid singing this hymn since the last verse points out the folly of the false science called evolution. It also stresses the inability of man to save himself – we are saved only by the grace of God through the shedding of the precious blood of His only Begotten Son and not by any supposed righteousness on our own part. Salvation is a gift and given only at the discretion of the Giver.
