Christmas Devotion (December 4) - Silent Night and World War I

Silent Night

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

Luke 2:16

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
Sleep in heavenly peace

Stille Nacht! Heil'ge Nacht! 
Alles schläft; einsam wacht 
Nur das traute hoch heilige Paar. 
Holder Knab' im lockigen Haar, 
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! 
Schlafe in himmlischer Ruh! 

It was Christmas Eve, 1914, during the early months of World War I. When the Germans had left their country earlier in the year, they expected to be home by Christmas to celebrate their victory. The young men, however, were not home by Christmas and the war dragged on for four more years—and Europe, and the world, would never be the same again.

By December of 1914, trench warfare along the 200 mile front was proving to be a difficult and deadly form of battle. The trenches were filled with mud, vermin and death. Christmas of 1914 was particularly cold, freezing the slush and water of the trenches in which the men hunkered down.

But, on December 24, along the trenches of the western front, British and Scottish soldiers heard a startling sound—the sound of singing. And it was a song they instantly recognized, even if they did not understand the words. The song was Silent Night, or as the Germans sang it, Stille nacht, heilige nacht.

Shocked by this strange yet welcome sound, one by one, the English began singing "back" to the Germans their version of this beautiful melody. Soon, voices on both sides filled the air with the strains of Silent Night.

As they looked across to the enemy trenches, the Allies began to spot candles raised on poles or bayonets. And even more incredibly, the English officers reported that some enemy troops were holding Christmas trees over their heads. Soldiers from both sides, who had just hours before had been killing one another, tentatively began to emerge from their trenches and to venture into the dreaded "no man’s land" bringing good cheer and gifts from their kits—and to bury their dead.

Against all odds, a spontaneous, one day truce had begun; a truce that ignored all the rules of military conduct! 

As you sing Silent Night this year, think back to that terrible time at the beginning of the last century. Both sides had sung of Christ for hundreds of years, but still embarked on a war that would take the best and brightest of an entire generation. But yet, against all odds, God’s peace prevailed for a brief season.

I urge you to let God’s peace help you right now. Ask the Savior, the Babe of Bethlehem to work a miracle—to change your attitude or your circumstances. He will do it if, in faith, you ask Him. Jesus Christ came to bring peace—peace that displaces worry and fear. Peace with God. It’s the key to a truly happy life. And then, don’t forget to thank Him! 

Here is Silent Night with lyrics sung by Casting Crowns  https://youtu.be/Sb7M81xHK0k