Great David’s Son -
Great David’s Lord

The bells of Christmas chime once more,
the heav’nly Guest is at the door.
He comes to earthly dwellings still
With new year gifts of peace, good will.

This world, though wide and far outspread,
Could scarcely find for You a bed.
Your cradle was a manger stall,
No pearl nor silk nor kingly hall.

Now let us all with quiet mind,
The swaddling Babe with shepherds find,
To gaze on Him who gladdens them,
The loveliest Flow’r of Jesse’s stem.

Oh, join with me in gladness sing,
To keep our Christmas with our King,
Until our song, from loving souls,
Like rushing mighty water rolls!

O patriarchs’ Joy, O prophets’ Song,
O Dayspring bright, awaited long;
O Son of Man, incarnate Word,
Great David’s Son, great David’s Lord:

Come, Jesus, glorious heav’nly Guest,
And keep Your Christmas in our breast;
Then David’s harpstrings, hushed so long,
Shall swell our jubilee of song.

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come, ye, O come, ye, to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

The highest, most holy, Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin, a mortal He comes;
Son of the Father, now in flesh appearing!

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above;
Glory to God in the Highest!

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning,
Jesus, to Thee be glory giv’n;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:

“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! Hosanna in the highest!”

(Matthew 21:9,10)

Hosanna to the anointed King,
To David’s holy Son!
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring
Salvation from the throne.

(TLH 10:3)

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

(Jeremiah 33:15)

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

(Isaiah 9:6,7)

Hail, hosanna, David’s Son,
Be Thou by Thy people blest!
Thine eternal kingdom come!
Praise be sung to Thee on high!
Hail, hosanna, David’s Son,
Be Thou by Thy people blest!

Hail, hosanna, David’s Son,
Be Thou welcome, gracious King!
Firmly stands Thy throne of peace,
Thou, the Father’s only Son!
Hail, hosanna, David’s Son,
Be Thou by Thy people blest!

Congregational Hymn:

O Jesus, King of Glory,
Both David’s Lord and Son!
Your realm endures forever,
In heav’n is fixed Your throne.
Help that in earth’s dominions,
Throughout from pole to pole,
Your reign may spread salvation
To each benighted soul.

(TLH 130:1)

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

We praise the Lord this holy day,
This day so long foretold,
Whose promise shed with cheering ray
On all the saints of old.

The Lord’s prophet revealed the sign
For faithful men to read:
A virgin born of David’s line
Would bear the promised Seed.

Ask not how this could ever be
But worship and adore,
Like her whom God’s own majesty
Came down to shadow o’er.

She humbly bowed her head to hear
The message of the Lord;
May we, like Mary, ponder now
That mighty, gracious Word.

(TLH 274 adapted)

Congregation:

Lord Jesus Christ, the Virgin’s Son,
We praise You and adore
Who is with God the Father One
And Spirit evermore.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: after His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you will call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her until she had brought forth her firstborn Son, And he called His name Jesus.

“Doubt not, faithful child of God,”
The angel spoke as Joseph’s guest -
Joseph heard the wondrous message
While he was asleep, at rest.

“Doubt not, faithful child of God,
Nor turn from Mary in her need;
Know the Holy Ghost has blessed her -
She brings forth the Promised Seed.”

Doubt not, faithful child of God,
Nor fear dishonor, nor disgrace;
This, the time of God’s appointing
Shall reveal your Savior’s face.

Congregation:

Doubt not, faithful child of God,
But welcome now this Infant blessed.
By His living, dying, rising,
He makes you His honored guest.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because He was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky look down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes.
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle ’til morning is nigh.

Congregation:

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care
And take us to heaven, to live with Thee there.

Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed
where a mother laid her baby in a manger for a bed;
Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven who is God and Lord of all,
and His shelter was a manger, and His cradle was a stall;
with the poor and mean and lowly lived on earth, our Savior holy.

But our eyes in truth should see Him through His own redeeming love,
for that Child, so dear and helpless, is our Lord in heav’n above.
As He leads His children on to the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable with the oxen standing by,
shall we see Him, but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high.
Then like stars, His children crowned, all in white His praise shall sound.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!”

While shepherds watched their flocks by night, all seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down, and glory shown around.
“Fear not,” said he, for mighty dread had seized their troubled mind;
“Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind.

“To you, in David’s town this day, is born of David’s line,
A Savior, who is Christ the Lord, and this shall be the sign:
The heav’nly Babe you there shall find to human view displayed,
All meanly wrapped in swaddling clothes and in a manger laid.”

Congregation:

Thus spake the seraph, and forewith, Appeared a shining throng Of angels, praising God, and thus Addressed their joyful song: ”All glory be to God on high, And to the earth be peace; Good will henceforth from heav’n to earth Begin and never cease.”

Congregation: Please rise

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echoing their joyous strains:
“Gloria in excelsis Deo!”

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told to them.

Congregation: Please rise

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon virgin mother and Child, holy Infant, so tender and mild.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar, heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!”

Silent night! Holy night! Son of God! Love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Sages from the east afar
When they saw this wondrous star,
Went to find the King of nations
And to offer their oblations
Unto Him as Lord and King.

Him they found in Bethlehem,
Yet He wore no diadem;
They but saw a maiden lowly
With an Infant pure and holy
Resting in her loving arms.

Guided by a star, they found Him
whose praise the ages sound.
We too have a star to guide us
which forever will provide us
With the light to find our Lord.

Congregation:

As a star, God’s holy Word
Leads us to our King and Lord;
Brightly from its sacred pages
Shall this light throughout the ages
Shine upon our path of life.

Text © 1958 Service Book and Hymnal.
Reprinted by permission of Augsburg Fortress.

When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”

(Matthew 9:27)

Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

(Matthew 12:22,23)

Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Hosanna in the highest!”

(Matthew 21:9,10)

While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” He said to them, “How then does David in the spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

(Matthew 22:41-46)

All glory, laud, and honor, to You, Redeemer King,
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
You are the King of Israel, and David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s name coming, our King and Blessed One.

(TLH 160:1)

“From this man’s (David) seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior—Jesus…”

(Acts13:24)

Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.

(2 Timothy 2: 8,9)

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”

(Revelation 5:5)

Oh, come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to Thee, O Israel.

(TLH 62:4)

Congregation:

O come, O come, great Lord of might
Who to Your tribes on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

And I heard, as it were, a voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia, for the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Then he said to me,“Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.”

And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Shepherd boy of Bethlehem, youngest son in his family,
Faithful servant with strength and love, guarding his sheep.
Called by God to be the king, David ruled in his land
With the love of a shepherd and a warrior’s strong hand.

With a stone, he slayed Goliath, with a sword came defeat
To the enemy nations ’til victory was complete.
Ev’ry victory was of God, every battle was won,
To bring peace to His people and blessing pour down.

From shepherd to king, anointed by God,
A man for his people, a heart for his Lord.

Greater things in David’s city came to pass by God’s Word,
When a virgin conceived and gave birth to her Lord.
He’s the one eternal God, David’s son by His blood,
Which He came to shed for us in true shepherd’s love.

Our great King has gone to battle, and with victory brought peace,
Laying down His life for us and for sin’s release.
Praise the Shepherd, who guides; praise the King standing guard;
Praise to Jesus, who is David’s Son, David’s Lord.

Christ our Shepherd and King, Your praises we bring,
Ruling forever and over all things.

Congregational Hymn: Please rise

Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall?
Who is He in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness?

’Tis the Lord! O wondrous story! ’Tis the Lord, the King of Glory!
At His feet we humbly fall, Crown Him! Crown Him Lord of all!

Who is He the people bless for His words of gentleness?
Who is He to whom they bring all the sick and sorrowing?

Lo! at midnight who is He prays in dark Gethsemane?
Who is He on yonder tree dies in grief and agony?

Who is He that from the grave comes to heal and help and save?
Who is He that from the throne rules through all the world alone?