The First Noel

From Carols & Lessons for Advent on YouVersion  

First off, let’s start off with the song and the lyrics, then we’ll dig into the meaning of the classic.

The first Noel the angel did say 
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; 
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, 
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep. 
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
born is the King of Israel. 

They looked up and saw a star 
shining in the east, beyond them far; 
and to the earth it gave great light, 
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star 
three Wise Men came from country far; 
to seek for a king was their intent, 
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest, 
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest; 
and there it did both stop and stay, 
right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those Wise Men three, 
full reverently upon the knee, 
and offered there, in his presence, 
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, 
born is the King of Israel.

. . . to give light to those who sit in darkness. (Luke 1:79)

Noel is the French word for “Christmas”; a noel is a Christmas carol. The first one, as we well know, was sung “to certain poor shepherds, in fields as they lay.” Its text was the “Gloria in Excelsis”; “Glory to God in the highest,” sang the angels to the shepherds, “and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14). The first noel was a short song, but it pretty well summed up the Christmas message. “The First Noel,” on the other hand, is quite long. This anonymous English carol combines the story of the shepherds (from Luke 2) with that of the magi (Matthew 2). If you have the stamina, singing all of them will get you through the whole Christmas story.

The carol connects the shepherds to the wise men via the star of Bethlehem. Stanza 2 imagines the shepherds looking up to see a star in the east. Then in stanza 3, “by the light of that same star,” the wise men come traveling toward Bethlehem, and we follow them as they followed the star all the way to the place where the child lay, where we watch them come reverently in and open their gifts to him.

In the last stanza we’re all invited into the light to worship our Lord:

Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord;
that hath made heaven and earth of naught,
and with his blood mankind hath bought.

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 1:76-80