"Lovely is the midnight sky"

The story behind Grundtvig's popular Christmas hymn

Lovely is the midnight sky is one of Grundtvig’s most popular hymns at Christmas, but not so many Danes know that in its original 1810 version it contained no fewer than 19 verses and its title was The Three Wise Men (a Children’s Song). Much later, in 1853, Grundtvig cut the text to the 7 verses which were first published in the 1855 hymnbook. No fewer than 6 tunes have been written to the hymn, three of which are still found in the Danish Hymnbook (2003). The most popular is by Jacob Meidell:

 

1. Lovely is the midnight sky, 
Beautiful to see on high, 
where the golden stars are blinking, 
where they smile in concert winking 
us to join them up above.:/: 

 

2. In the depth of Christmas night 
all the stars were gleaming bright, 
but a sudden new star showing 
filled the vault of heaven glowing 
as a star-sun set on high.:/: 

 

3. When this star so soft and bright 
showed itself on Christmas night, 
ancient lore foretold the hour 
when a king of matchless power 
would be born upon this earth.:/: 

 

4. Wise men forthwith from the east 
followed where the light increased, 
to that king, there to adore Him, 
and their presents lay before Him, 
who was born that very hour.:/: 

 

5. Stopping where the star looked down, 
Bethlehem, King David’s town, 
there they found no king in glory, 
only Mary with her story, 
rocking Jesus in her lap.:/: 

 

6. As it brought wise men who prayed 
to the Christ-child and the Maid, 
so we have a star beside us; 
if we let it shine to guide us 
we shall come to Jesus Christ.:/: 

 

7. This bright star that shows the way 
and that never leads astray 
is the word He manifested, 
which His life with us attested, 
as a light our steps to guide.:/: 
 
Text: N.F.S. Grundtvig 1810 & 1853 
Trans.: Edward Broadbridge 2009 

 

Grundtvig wrote the hymn as an antidote to one of the periodical depressions he suffered all his life. In 1810 he was on the verge of a successful literary career in Copenhagen, when his aging father called him home to Udby to be his curate. The hymn was composed in early December 1810. Both then and later Grundtvig wrote his way out of depression by composing children’s hymns.

Verse 1 begins in the present tense with the invitation to children to look up and join the stars in celebration. Verse 2 speaks of the star over Bethlehem that drew men from the east to Jesus’ birthplace. Matthew’s gospel makes no mention of them being three, of being wise, or of being kings, but tradition speaks of “three wise men”. Only one of these three words –  ‘wise’ – appears in Grundtvig’s hymn. 

Verse 3 tells how “ancient lore” spoke of a great king being born – a prediction found in Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

In verse 4 the men bring gifts associated with royalty and are intent on worshipping a baby, a strange scene indeed. In a stroke of genius Grundtvig brings the story back to earth when they find ‘only Mary …rocking Jesus in her lap.’ Verses 6 and 7 draw the hymn to its Christian conclusion with an exhortation to follow the star/the word in order to find Jesus, as promised.

By Edward Broadbridge

Photo: Danish artist Birthe Einar Jensen's illustration of Grundtvig's hymn.  

 

To hear the available tunes for this hymn please go to:

http://www.dendanskesalmebogonline.dk/salme/136

 

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