Biblical citations in the hymnal: Luke 2:1-16; John 1:1-4, 14; Galatians 4:4; Matthew 2:1-7
Luke 2:1-16: "1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'
"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger."
John 1:1-4: "1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men."
John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Galatians 4:4: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law."
Matthew 2:1-7: "1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.' 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, 'In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 "And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel."'"
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The Luke 2 text is the main referent in the hymn, and while the other Biblical texts cited also deal with the Christmas story, they don't seem to be mentioned very specifically in the hymn. The only one I could really make a case for is the Matthew 2 text. The "wise men from the east" might be referred to in the beginning of the second verse: "Whom the sages / And the ages / Eagerly awaited."
Again, like many other Christmas hymns, "Let Our Gladness Banish Sadness" portrays the angels singing ("Angels proudly / Herald loudly / In their songs elated"), but in the Luke 2 text, they're "saying, 'Glory to God in the highest....'"
Again, like many other Christmas hymns, "Let Our Gladness Banish Sadness" portrays the angels singing ("Angels proudly / Herald loudly / In their songs elated"), but in the Luke 2 text, they're "saying, 'Glory to God in the highest....'"
