Advent Day 3: Cadence

We all know the song The Little Drummer Boy. It gets rerecorded each year as new music artists make Christmas albums and it even has its own yuletide movie. In the past, I admit, I never cared for it. The story surrounds the nativity scene but lacks any scriptural evidence to make it relevant to the events it alludes to. After giving it another chance and taking the time to uncover its message, I believe now that this song is applicable to and descriptive of the Christian life, not just the Christmas season. 

Come they told me
A newborn king to see

Life, for a Christian, starts with the call. We are called by the message of the gospel to put off the things of our former selves in order to be made into a new creation. This is not a threatening message though parts of it may be intimidating. Here we see a call to come and see the new king. Meeting a king, or any person of high authority, is intimidating because it draws attention to our status as lower. At the same time, it is not a condemning summons that would strike terror in the heart of the hearer. This call instead it is an invitation to come to the crib side of the infant king for one reason: to adore him and swear allegiance to him.

Our finest gifts we bring
To lay before the king
So to honor him when we come

Herein lays the act of adoration. We bring our very best to the new king because he deserves nothing less. It would be insulting to him and a mark of bad character for us if we were to present a gift of lesser value. Therefore we offer the most precious thing we can lay our hands on.

Little baby
I am a poor boy too

This line brings us back to what we talked about on Day 1: Christ's incarnation. The Christ-child was born into a family of no distinction with little means, a working class family who's financial situation is evidence by the humble sacrifice they offered in the Temple (Luke 2:22-24).  Jesus came as a little baby, taking on all the weaknesses of flesh. This great condescension was only for our benefit. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:15-16)

I have no gift to bring
To lay before the king

In our earthly state, we have nothing to bring, nothing to sacrifice, nothing to offer. Despite our poverty, we receive the call nonetheless and are expected to respond accordingly. 

Shall I play for you
On my drum?

All that we can bring is ourselves: our talents, abilities, shortcomings, faults...We bring them all to our king because he wants everything we are. 

Mary nodded
The ox and lamb kept time

When we offer our praises to the Lord, all of creation joins in. "Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven." (Psalm 148:9-13)

I played my drum for him
I played my best for him

In all that you do, do your best for Christ. "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called." (Ephesians 4:1)

Then he smiled at me
Me and my drum

Our motivation for doing our best is to hear "Well done good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21), to feel the light of his smile warm our cheeks.

It turns out a song I had never given much consideration to is actually a cadence to march to. This holiday season let us listen to this song and place ourselves in the shoes of the little boy who answered a call he knew he was unworthy of, showed up with only an instrument and gave Jesus all he had.