Luke 2:40 The Christ Child Grew
“And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (ESV).
Although hymn singing was frequent in eastern Europe, few hymns from the area have been translated to English. One of the traditions in Poland was for the priest to go from home to home often accompanied by a group of singers during the Christmas season. Carrying a star on a pole and a Nativity scene, they sang Christmas hymns and also enacted Nativity plays—the beginning of Christmas caroling. One of the songs often sung, and one of the few translated into English, was “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.
This holy and lowly infant slept in a cattle stall, hearing animal noises while angels sang, “Christ the babe is Lord of all.” Yes, this tiny infant had lowly beginnings, but He was also holy. The song was sung by angels to the shepherds, who watched their sleeping flocks. The shepherds were the first to hear the Good News, and after seeing the Christ Child, they spread it abroad to those they saw as they walked back to their flocks. As the song says, “Christ the babe was born for you.” I’ll repeat that, as we all should repeat it to the whole world, “Christ the babe was born for you and you and you and you and you…and you. And me! “Thank you, Lord, for giving to me thy great salvation so rich and free.” (Seth and Bessie Sykes c1940)
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly
1 Infant holy, infant lowly,
for His bed a cattle stall;
oxen lowing, little knowing
Christ, the babe, is Lord of all.
Swift are winging angels singing,
noels ringing, tidings bringing:
Christ the babe is Lord of all!
Christ the babe is Lord of all!
2 Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping
vigil till the morning new
saw the glory, heard the story,
tidings of the gospel true.
Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow,
praises voicing, greet the morrow:
Christ the babe was born for you;
Christ the babe was born for you.