Many songs and carols traditionally accompany the celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. And thanks to the men and women of faith who went before us, Christians today have a considerable repertoire of Christmas hymns to help us adore Christ. In Hosanna in Excelsis: Hymns and Devotions for the Christmas Season, David and Barbara Leeman take us through many of these cherished hymns about the incarnation of Christ.
Hosanna in Excelsis is a devotional based hymns and carols. It has 43 hymns divided into three groups: hymns of advent, hymns of the nativity, and hymns of the Epiphany.
The advent hymns prepare us to celebrate Christ’s first coming and anticipate His return. For example, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, and Hark the Glad! The Savior Comes. The devotion runs from November 25th to December 3rd.
The hymns of the nativity celebrate the birth of Christ and address its significance theologically. Examples of these hymns are Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Fullness of Grace, and O Come All Ye Faithful. It’s the longest section of the book and runs from December 4th to December 25th.
Last are the hymns of Epiphany. Epiphany is the twelve days after Christmas, where we consider the wise men’s visit to see Jesus and how they fell and worshiped Him. These hymns help us honor Him with awe and wonder and make us reflect on the importance of what we have just celebrated. For example, Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come, Go, Tell It on the Mountain, and O Rejoice, Ye Christians, Loudly.
Each hymn comes with a brief biography of the author, details about the writing and composition, a corresponding Scripture, a devotional section titled “As you sing this hymn,” and sheet music.
I love that this devotional helps us appreciate and understand the meaning of the words we sing every year. There are many wonderful theological gems in our favorite Christmas songs, and this book invites us to stop and consider them; to glory in the precious truth of Christ’s coming and respond in heartfelt praise. I also enjoyed learning the inspiration behind some of my favorite Christmas hymns and discover new ones.
Hosanna in Excelsis is a must-have book! It’s beautiful, theological filled, and will cause you to meditate deeply about the wonders of Christmas. Not to mention, enrich your celebration with beautiful songs. I highly recommend it.
*Moody Publishers graciously gave me a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. *
