Read: Philippians 4:4-7
The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything. (vv. 5-6)
To understand the message of this jaunty old English carol, the most important thing to do is to observe the comma in the title. It’s not “God rest you, merry gentlemen.” It’s “God rest you merry, gentlemen.” The gentlemen—and gentle ladies are included, this being 18th-century English—are not merry, as if they’ve had a little too much Christmas cheer. Nor is God being asked to make them rest, as if they’ve all been dancing too hard. The blessing that the carol asks is, “(May) God rest (make) you merry (happy), gentle people all.”
Why should we be joyful, no matter what our circumstances? Because Christmas reminds us of the Good News, “tidings of comfort and joy.” We have been given a Savior, and he changes everything. The apostle wrote a wonderfully ambiguous phrase to the Christians in Philippi: “The Lord is at hand.” The Lord is at hand, meaning he is about to return? Or the Lord is at hand, meaning he is close by us? The answer is, both. That’s why we can “rejoice in the Lord,” why we need not be anxious about anything. Cares may come and go, but happiness will be forever, because Jesus has come once and is coming again someday soon. Meanwhile, because he is close to us now through his Spirit, we can know joy, and even happiness, despite our sorrows.
Someone once asked an old preacher if Jesus ever laughed. “I don’t know,” he replied, “but he sure fixed me so I could.”
As you pray, thank God for tidings of comfort and joy.
Listen along: God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen – Rend Collective
About the Author
David Bast is a writer and pastor who served for 23 years as the President and Broadcast Minister for Words of Hope. Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and eight grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
