Music of the Season - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Greetings Dear Reader,

“...at the first sound of — 'God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!'— Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost." – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Of note in this song is the very first line.   The placement of the comma matters greatly.  You see the word merry does not mean that the gentlemen are merry but rather that the writer is saying that God will rest us merry.  We will be happy in our contentment that what God offers are tidings of comfort and joy.

We can rest in the knowledge that the advent of Christ heralds rest for our worries over the fate of mankind.  The words below have changed much over the years and the version I know is quite different.  No matter which version you know, I wish you much comfort and joy.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Author Unknown

God rest you merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay,

For Jesus Christ our Saviour

Was born upon this day,

To save us all from Satan's power

When we were gone astray:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father

A blessed angel came,

And unto certain shepherds

Brought tidings of the same,

How that in Bethlehem was born

The Son of God by name:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

The shepherds at those tidings

Rejoiced much in mind,

And left their flocks a-feeding

In tempest, storm and wind,

And went to Bethlehem straightway,

This blessed Babe to find:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

But when to Bethlehem they came,

Whereat this Infant lay,

They found Him in a manger,

Where oxen feed on hay;

His mother Mary kneeling,

Unto the Lord did pray:

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,

O tidings of comfort and joy.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."