Why Christmas Carols Can Communicate Deep Spiritual Truth

What puts a song in your heart?

—Your favorite playlist?

—Your wedding song?

—Christmas carols?

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is the music. You may be tired of hearing Christmas carols that have already been playing since Halloween. For many, the joy of those carols slowly dissipates until we have nothing left by Dec. 25.

But Christmas carols can provide more than mere distraction and entertainment. They communicate spiritual truths in wonderfully memorable ways. If you’re like me, you may have a difficult time with memorization, including memorizing Scripture verses. But if you know the words to many familiar Christmas carols, you probably have more Bible verses memorized or paraphrased than you realize!

For example, consider the lyrics of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” originally written by Charles Wesley. Before you groan at the thought of listening to yet another Christmas carol, read the words as if for the first time…

Hark! the herald angels sing/
“Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:13a).

Glory to the newborn King/
“Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14a).

Peace on earth, and mercy mild/
“and on earth peace” (Luke 2:14b).

God and sinners reconciled/
“and good will toward men” (Luke 2:14c).

Joyful, all ye nations rise, join the triumph of the skies/
“I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all people” (Luke 2:10a).

With the angelic host proclaim/
“Suddenly there was with the angel a company of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:13a).

Christ is born in Bethlehem/
“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11).

Hark! the herald angels sing/
“Suddenly, a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God” (Luke 2:13).

Glory to the newborn King/
“Where is He was been born king of the Jews?” (Matt. 2:2a).

Enjoy the carols of Christmas. And while you’re at it, enjoy the amount of Scripture you didn’t know you knew!

Think of your favorite Christmas carol—how many Bible verses can you identify in its lyrics? {eoa}

Ava Pennington is a writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She writes for nationally circulated magazines and is published in 32 anthologies, including 25 “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books. She also authored Daily Reflections on the Names of God: A Devotional, endorsed by Kay Arthur. Learn more at avawrites.com.

This article originally appeared at avawrites.com.