From Heaven Above to Earth I Come

“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” is a 1534 Christmas carol written by Martin Luther for his family.

This is one of many he wrote, and his German title is “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her.”

Catherine Winkworth, a noted British hymnologist of the 19th century, translated it into English.

Fifteen verses to tell the story!

According to my friend Linda, who wrote a Christmas play about the carol, it tells the nativity story. The first five verses are the angels’ song.

It begins with the good news from the angels:

1. “From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:

2. “To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

Were these the angels in the field addressing the shepherds?

They certainly were full of glad tidings and joy when they announced the Savior’s birth.

Who Came Down from Heaven to Earth?

Surely that was a central question?

Sound like the Messiah, the Savior, to me!

3. “This is the Christ, our God, and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.

4. “He will on you the gifts bestow
Prepared by God for all below,
That in His kingdom, bright and fair,
You may with us His glory share.

5. “These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
There ye shall find the Infant laid
By whom the heavens and earth were made.”

Luther uses the carol to explain who came and why he came.

Remember, most people had given up looking for the Messiah by the time of Jesus’ birth.

The neighborhood about the Judean hills was excited after the remarkable events of John the Baptist’s birth. But they hadn’t put together the real Savior was on his way.

The birth of God’s son was truly a joyous day!

He’s here from heaven. Now what?

So, what do we, the readers/singers, do with this knowledge?

It’s a birthday party, right? Let’s celebrate with the angels and shepherds!

6. Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Go with the shepherds and draw near
To see the precious gift of God,
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.

7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
What is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there.

8. Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest
Through whom the sinful world is blest!

Linda explained the seventh through fourteenth verses were the children’s song.

Looking ahead to Jesus’ life

It’s hard for us on this side of the history, to think of Jesus simply as that baby meek and mild.

He’s more than that and those of us who know what is coming in his life, can feel pricked by that same sword Simeon prophesied for Mary’s heart.

Thou com’st to share my misery;
What thanks shall I return to Thee?

9. Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
How weak art Thou, how poor and small,
That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed
Where humble cattle lately fed!

These 1.5 verses remind us that while we’re celebrating a birth day, we’re also welcoming the Creator of the Universe into our world.

He came for our sakes, not his own.

Wait, who is this, really?

Martin Luther never lost sight of the God he worshipped. He always saw the contrast between God in heaven, and the world He sent Jesus to.

10. Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
It yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

11. For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As ’twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.

12. And thus, dear Lord, it pleaseth Thee
To make this truth quite plain to me,
That all the world’s wealth, honor, might,
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.

The monk who recognized the truth of Jesus in the book of Romans, knew he was undeserving of such a Savior.

I recognized that, too, one Christmas.

But this is a Christmas carol!

So, let’s rejoice, along with Luther!

Christmas carols are for celebrating the Redeemer’s birth in the world.

How does His coming affect me, and Luther, and you, personally?

13. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

14. My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song:

15. Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth.

The last verse, the fifteenth, was for the entire congregation in full throat!

“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” provides a full theological and singing experience for us during Advent.

It’s theologically rich, albeit obscure for me, personally.

Let’s sing it this Christmas!

This is part one of “Obscure Hymns with Deep Theology,” written for December 2020.

Tweetables

What does the Christmas carol “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come,” mean? Click to Tweet

An obscure Luther Christmas carol with deep theological meaning. Click to Tweet