I put this song right up there with Mary. Did you know by Mark Lowry. Beautiful, beautiful song, very heart, moving and thought-provoking. All of the Christmas songs that sing about that night paints such a sweet picture, but it definitely was not a silent night, all was not calm, I’m sure the cattle were not lowing. Mary was probably frightened; even though she was assured that God was with her and she knew God would provide she was still human. She probably didn’t even know where her next meal was going to come from and now here she has this baby to take care of. She didn’t have a baby shower, so there were no nice clean, warm blankets, there were no diapers, no burp pads. she wasn’t able to take a warm shower after giving birth. How difficult that night was for her and how scared Joseph must’ve been. They were so young, but the couple to be chosen to be the earthly parents of our Lord and savior.
I only just became acquainted with Andrew Peterson through his book “God in the Garden” and had no idea he wrote this, one of my favorite Christmas songs. The part that goes “So he held her and he prayed, shafts I’d moonlight on his face. But the baby in her womb, He was the maker of the moon. He was the author of the faith that could make the mountains move” gives me goosebumps and makes my eyes water every time I hear it. They’re such evocative, stirring lyrics that capture how wonderfully profound Jesus’ birth is.
As agonizingly beautiful and unique this song is, I like to think there was at least one angel with Mary to minister to her and help her usher the King of kings safely into the world. This take makes God seem like an absent Father. Mary's courage and sacrifice are honored beautifully...but my God wouldn't have left her to suffer alone on a dirty floor.
Of course He wouldn't. That's why Christ is called Emmanuel, "God with us". As the song said, the Creator of all things and Author of faith was the baby in her womb. I think it's just a song with the purpose of portraying the human aspect of what it was like because we sometimes see Bible accounts and people as characters in a story rather than real, human people in real-life circumstances like us. I like to think there was an angel there, too. 🙂
Uke; Totally disagree with you. The song silent night stands no ground to the true story. If you only knew the writer Andrew Peterson and what a copulation of song on this particular cd you would get the fuller picture of this song. Check out the full cd of this then you will understand more of the text of this masterpiece.
Happily pursuing loving her labor Happily eagerly performs her labor Labor as a hobby not her drudgery Anxiously learning happily rearing Her children are but a labor of love
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this amazing song. The line about Joseph with moonlight on his face and the reality that the baby was the creator of that moon blows me away every time!
And Jill Phillips has such a beautiful, unique voice. I remember when she sang at a benefit concert for Sudan at Saint bees in Nashville. I was blessed to meet her and to know that she would use her talent for our work to help the Christians in South Sudan.
They played this song at The Mission Church in High Point NC and a 13 year-old girl walked up to the altar and kneeled and me and 3 other people surrounded her and we all started praying for her. The Holy Spirit was deffaintly in that church that morning and I'm still praying for her and I'll continue to as long as I need to
Such a deeply moving song sung with gentle simplicity, yet in such a profoundly beautiful way by Jill Phillips. Andrew's music and Jill's stunningly powerful voice convey the listener straight to Bethlehem.
I love the song everytime I hear it i cry its a beautiful song ❤️ Jesus birth, every mother now the pain and love to bring a child to life, labor of love
Such a beautiful song. This song has true and real meanings. Loved seeing it preformed at your concert behold the lamb thanks @Andrew Peterson. Please continue making such meaningful deep songs. Your songs aren’t shallow like the worlds they are deep and solid.
very rarely do we think of the details such as this, the heart and miserable conditions Mary went through to give birth to a Child, knowing it was all to see him die for us. Labor and delivery is hard enough even when you have a warm blanket, doctors, nurses and the bed - I can't even imagine being on that cold ground while in such pain!
My school is using this in our yearly musical, The Three Trees. Thank you for making this masterpiece so that my friend Enola can honor God with her voice.
I really like this song. Oh goodness what a song about the labor of Love. Praise Jesus, for He fills my heart with glorious Love and Joy. Thank you for this wonderful song. Jesus truly makes the mountain move. Awesome Song !!!
We are studying Not a Silent Night by Adam Hamilton in our Soul Sisters Class at Johns Creek UMC in Johns Creek, GA. Adam Hamilton suggested we listen to this in his leaders guide. Very powerful song! Love!
![Andrew Peterson - "Labor of Love" [Feat. Jill Phillips] (Official Lyric Video)](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
