Do you hear what I hear?

'Tis the season, and Christmas music is sounding forth from radio stations across the world. Singers and songwriters alike devote themselves to capturing the quintessential beauty found in a single, dangling snowflake. Poets seek to capture on paper the mystical evanescence of what surrounds this holiday. Even the lowest and meanest among us wax poetic and philosophical at this time of year. How can you not be poetic when there are scented candles and pretty lights all around?  

I wondered recently whether those who sing certain Christmas songs know what they are saying. Are they oblivious to the words? Do they sing them simply because they are traditional songs, and they sound pretty good, and you can get that Christmas CD out pretty quick by covering an old tune instead of writing your own? Do they sing them because the songs are poetic? 

Am I cynical? I'm sure I have asked that question before. But do they know? I would really like to know if these singers realize what the words coming out of their mouths actually mean. 

For instance, I hear "Joy to the World" on the radio a lot. It's been sung by many people, old and young. It is a good tune. Just look at the words.  

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven and nature sing,

And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Verse 3 is sometimes skipped, but the remaining verses are enough to make you wonder. This carol is a proclamation of the gospel. It declares that joy has come to the world precisely because Christ has come to the world. We are joyful because He reigns. We are joyful because He brings blessings beyond measure, beyond understanding. We are joyful because He rules the world with truth and grace! He is glorious, He is righteous, He is Love Incarnate. I hear the truth found in Jesus Christ in every line of this carol.

I'm not complaining that it's on the radio; in fact, I'm delighted. Except for when someone does a completely messed-up version of the music. That is not so delightful.

But do they hear what I hear?