The vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem that Isaiah son of Amoz saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. “Hear me, you heavens! Listen, earth! For the Lord has spoken: “I reared children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against me. The ox knows its master, the donkey its owner’s manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:1-3
Between the ox and the grey donkey
sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.
Refrain:
A thousand divine angels, a thousand seraphim
fly around this great God of love.
Between the two arms of Mary
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the fruit of life.
Refrain
Between the roses and the lilies,
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps the little son.
Refrain
Amidst the gentle shepherds
Sleeps, sleeps Jesus who smiles.
Refrain
On this beautiful, so solemn day
Sleeps, sleeps, sleeps Emmanuel.
Entre le bœuf et l’âne gris or Between the Ox and the Grey Donkey translated and arranged in modern times by Terry Hurrell. This hymn dates to somewhere between the 13th and 16th centuries in France.
What struck me related to generosity today is the prophecy.
We label Isaiah as a major prophet for the magnitude of his writing and proclamations to the people of God about the things to come. Notice at the start of his writing he sets his announcement in history linking it to the reign of kings.
And then He says plainly that He reared his people but they did not obey Him. So he points what will happen between the ox and the donkey. He makes a reference to the nativity.
And today’s Hynm simply tells us what happened there. It was not a fancy setting, though the hosts of angels celebrate. That got me thinking even more.
Today, you and I get to minister as agents of Emmanuel. God’s Word tells us that there is more joy in heaven when we lead people to faith in Jesus or minister effectively as His servants.
So what’s my point? Jesus as the arrival of Jesus was not glamorous but good, between the ox and donkey, our generous service is most often not glamorous but good. And the angels celebrate what we do.
So as you approach the celebration of Christmas, keep living, giving, serving, and loving generously and often, not glamorously, and know that God sees and heaven celebrates.