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Glory in the Night

It was a night like any night, when in the evening chill
Cold shepherds sat by bonfire’s light on many a naked hill
To warm themselves while watching over flocks of wandering sheep
That grazed on grass and clumps of clover, veiled in darkness deep.

When bleak winds blew, they pulled their cloaks more tightly round their frames
And warmed their hands, yet hardly spoke, beside the flickering flames.
From time to time, they would nod off or take a swig of wine
Or sigh or yawn or softly cough, or on their backs recline.

When suddenly, the sky lit up as brightly as the day,
Which caused those resting to sit up, and look up far away
Into the open heaven, where there shone a brilliant light
That streamed forth with a glory rare that pierced the dark of night.

For there before them standing tall, and walking on a beam
Of light that bathed and flooded all, like some bright rushing stream,
A mighty being dressed in white approached them where they fell
Upon their knees, struck dumb with fright, like those condemned to hell.

“Fear not!” he said, to calm their fear, “For unto you I bring,
Good news of things not far from here to make your sad hearts sing,
For on this day to you is born a Savior, Christ the Lord,
Who comes to fill the most forlorn with blessings He has stored

Within His loving bosom, which He comes now to bestow
To lift the humble from the ditch and cast the proud below.
You’ll find him in a manger laid, in David’s ancient city,
Wrapped up in rags from linen made—roughhewn, not very pretty—

A feeding trough his only bed, a pile of straw his pillow
On which to lay his holy head—by these clear marks you will know
You stand before the promised One, whose coming was foretold,
This dark world’s rising, warming Sun, who drives away the cold.

This blesséd birth is for your sake, for every tribe and nation
To whom God’s heralds soon will take glad tidings of salvation.
This is the sign God gives to you, that you may see and know
The message that you’ve heard is true—so heed my words and go!

Then suddenly, the sky was filled with choirs of angels bringing
Good news to trembling hearts that thrilled to hear what they were singing:
“Give praise to God,” they sang on high, “and peace to men on earth,
For God has brought His glory nigh through this child’s wondrous birth.”

The dumbstruck shepherds, filled with awe at what they’d seen and heard
Then watched the heavenly throngs withdraw, and uttered not a word,
Until one said, “Let’s go and see this child who has been given
From sin and death to set us free and lead us into heaven.”

Thus on a night like any night since this old world began,
Poor shepherds, changed by such a sight as few are blessed to scan,
Set free from fear, their hopes transformed, their dark night turned to day,
Their once cold hearts now strangely warmed, rejoicing, fled away

To find the babe of Bethlehem within that cattle shed
Of which the angel spoke to them. The tears of joy they shed
Erased their doubts and anguished dread, and washed away their fears,
For they believed what God had said through songs that reached their ears.

So tell me now if you agree. You’ve heard the message, too;
Will you in faith come now with me, and count God’s words as true?
Do you believe God’s Son has come to fill the world with light?
Then come, fall down, let’s worship Him, till faith gives way to sight.

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Martin Rizley grew up in Oklahoma and in Texas, and has served in pastoral ministry both in the United States and in Europe. He is currently serving as the pastor of a small evangelical church in the city of Málaga on the southern coast of Spain, where he lives with his wife and daughter. Martin has enjoyed writing and reading poetry as a hobby since his early youth.

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12 Responses

  1. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    A glorious and beautiful poetic reminder of exactly why we celebrate Christmas. I especially like: “Set free from fear, their hopes transformed, their dark night turned to day…” I am sure this would apply to all those who look to God for guidance in a world that encourages us to look in the opposite direction. I love the closing line with the invitation to those who believe to: “… fall down, let’s worship Him, till faith gives way to sight.” … it has a much-needed ring of hope in a world where hope is waning.

    Martin, thank you. I wish you a peaceful and joyful Christmas and a beautiful, poetry-filled New Year!

    Reply
  2. JAMES MAGOMA

    Ooh glorious the child is born to us.
    The new life from our old ways
    Merry Christmas

    Reply
  3. Margaret Coats

    A picturesque re-telling of the angels’ appearance to the shepherds, with numerous descriptive and narrative details to fill out the Biblical story. The focus on the “open heaven” and its supernal light unifies the word painting with the call to worship in the final stanza. In that last stanza, the couplet at the end, and especially the final words, “till faith gives way to sight,” strike an effective note of inviting the reader to become a viewer. Impressively done, Martin. Merry Christmas!

    Reply
  4. Sally Cook

    Martin, thank you for your poetic epressions of faith, in this dark time, it is badly needed.

    Reply
  5. g.KayeNaegele

    Yes, I will. Not only is this poem brilliantly written, but is prophetic, exactly on time, and worth an eternity beyond tinkling noises, lost to the world. Excellent R&M with flowing rhythm throughout, and excellent phrasing. Truly inspiring. Gail

    Reply
  6. Julian D. Woodruff

    This is a heartfelt lyric Among the tunes with which it would fit is “Oh little town of Bethlehem.” But there must be others, and maybe regular contributors ready to compose their own melodies.
    Thank you, Martin, and Merry Christmas.

    Reply
  7. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Beautiful rendition for Christmas that encapsulates the events and the scene portrayed in the Gospels! I especially love the final verse that is the typical call of the pastor to come down the aisle in belief ready for salvation and service.

    Reply
  8. Norma Pain

    Thank you Martin for this beautifully written poem, with perfect rhyme and meter, encouraging all to celebrate the real meaning of Christmas.

    Reply
  9. Brian Yapko

    This is a marvelous retelling of the Nativity story from the shepherds’ point of view, presented with both craft and heart. A most wonderful and heart-warming gift to us. Merry Christmas, Martin.

    Reply
  10. Paul Freeman

    A very visual piece of writing, which conveys a Bible story in an entertaining, educative and thoughtful way – as it should be.

    Thanks for the read, Martin.

    Reply

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