This year I have been humming and singing a Christmas carol that is often overlooked. Yet, it is a carol that expresses the magnitude and depth of God entering our world as a human being.
The lyrics were written by William Booth Clibborn (1893-1969) who was the grandson of William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. These powerful words are often sung to the tune of Edwardo Di Capua’s famous O SOLE MIO.
Read the hymn or sing it aloud. This is a beautiful, yet neglected, Christmas carol.
Verse 1
Down from His glory,
Ever living story,
My God and Savior came,
And Jesus was His Name.
Born in a manger,
To His own a stranger,
A Man of sorrows, tears and agony.
Refrain:
O how I love Him! How I adore Him!
My breath, my sunshine, my all in all.
The great Creator became my Savior,
And all God’s fullness dwelleth in Him.
Verse 2
What condescension,
Bringing us redemption;
That in the dead of night,
Not one faint hope in sight,
God, gracious, tender,
Laid aside His splendor,
Stooping to woo, to win, to save my soul
Refrain
Verse 3
Without reluctance,
Flesh and blood His substance,
He took the form of man,
Revealed the hidden plan,
O glorious myst’ry
Sacrifice of Calv’ry,
And now I know Thou art the great ‘I Am’
Refrain
“[He] took upon Him the form of a servant,
and was made in the likeness of men.”
(Philippians 2:7)