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God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

“… at the first sound of ‘God bless you, merry gentlemen! May nothing you dismay!’, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost.”

A Christmas Carol, 1843

The carol that caused such terror in Ebenezer Scrooge dates back to the 16th century. This makes it one of our oldest Christmas songs. Passed down as a folk song for generations, it eventually found its way into print by 1760. The earliest edition with music was printed in 1829.

But Dickens’ version includes a slight alteration which had become prevalent in his day. That seemingly insignificant change shifts the focus from God to man. Here’s why.

An important Word

The original reads, “God rest ye merry, gentlemen” but by the 18th century, many had moved the apostrophe forward to divide the sentence at ye. So, it came to read “God rest ye, merry gentlemen.”

That adaptation gives the idea that we are wishing rest to merry gentlemen. While this is a worthy desire for others, it makes a difference in the carol and in our theology.

There is a record from the 1540s of the phrase, “rest you merry”. It sounds odd to use “rest” in this way because of a change in the word’s meaning and usage.

Rest to us means to sleep, to be at ease.

To the carol writer it meant keep, continue or make.

An Important Comma

So, originally, the writer expressed this thought, “God keep or make you joyful, gentlemen”.

The placement of the comma makes it clear that a thought was completed after the word ye and the recipients were the hearers.

The emphasis then becomes on God doing something for us. It reveals that the writer of the carol knew that it is God that gives us peace. God sent His Son. God sent the angel Messengers. God provided the way of salvation.

When we sing, “God rest ye merry” we are affirming that the work of peace and joy in our hearts is one that He is uniquely able to accomplish.

Does It Matter?

The words and meanings of Christmas are familiar, but they have depth and breadth which we should welcome and meditate upon. It may be by understanding an old carol in a new way or it might be by learning new carols.

It certainly should rest upon a knowledge of the Word of God which reveals all truth to us.

Just as with our carols, so too with the Christmas story. Because of familiarity with the story, we begin to lose focus on the details and perhaps some of the awe and wonder we used to hold.

The miracle of the incarnation should constantly amaze us and the message of the incarnation should constantly draw us to worship.

Take a moment to enjoy all the lyrics in this old carol:

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan’s power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn
The which His Mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

“Fear not then,” said the Angel,
“Let nothing you affright,
This day is born a Saviour
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan’s power and might.”
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind:
And went to Bethlehem straightway
The Son of God to find.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

And when they came to Bethlehem
Where our dear Saviour lay,
They found Him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
His Mother Mary kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

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