Is it just me or does it seem that the decorating of Christmas trees begins sooner every year? Please don't get me wrong, that question isn't meant as a criticism of those who want to put there's up after Labor Day as I absolutely love a well-decorated Christmas tree! My personal conviction, however, is to wait until after Thanksgiving. There is some credence to seeing all of that hard work enjoyed for a period of more than 2-3 weeks. Much effort is put into the Cross family tree and for us to have it up for a brief moment during the year would be an affront, yea nearly an insult, to the energy expended in beautifying our home with the effects of the season. Thanks, Tammy, Katy, and Kristen!!!
So go on, you decorators you! Be tasteful, and enjoy your trees all adorned with the accouterments this time of the year reflects and deserves. Grab those ornaments, well preserved since last January, and find that perfect tree (or bring your tree out from its respective storage place). Then with all of you're creative juices flowing, kick in the Christmas turbo thrusters and rejuvenate that greenery with pop icons, popcorn, beads, lights, and of course some silver and gold...
We mentioned the impact of major motion pictures finding their way to the small screen last week as Christmas regular viewing options. Oh yeah, that was a shameless plug...go back and check it out! Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang" (Heather Ripley, Adrian Hall, Dick VanDyke)
The TV came into commercial production in the late 20s and 30s. As it found its way into homes of the 40s and 50s it lacked a little something...especially during Christmastime.
That missing part was the ability to watch television just like you could watch out a window... with all of the spectacular arrays of color on display!!! At Christmas, those colors seem brighter and livelier than any other time of the year. Television has played a part in Christmas celebrations since the medium's popularity increased with the addition of color in 1953. Seasonal specials flourished during the 60s as the technology caught up with the world of color that was being expressed in art, literature, animation, and yes, even music as it seemed to have a different "color" about it in that era.
No better provocateurs of this color renaissance were the folks at Rankin-Bass and the first of their televised Christmas specials...Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The stop-motion Christmas special was based on a song of the same name. You can go back and see the Tuesday's Musical Notes take on that one at Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Gene Autry).
The music from Rudolph set the stage and standard for Christmas specials to come. Since 1991, when SoundScan began keeping track, the soundtrack from Rudolph's 1964 animated adventure has sold over 1 million copies. That's right...it went gold...RIAA Gold and Platinum - Soundtrack Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
"Silver And Gold" was the 6th track on the "A-side" of the album placing it a little more than halfway through the special. As Sam, the Snowman, Burl Ives, (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Have A Holly, Jolly Christmas" - (Burl Ives)) regaled the tale of our intrepid hero. He served as a sort of "herald" for the characters as they weaved their way into the story. As he did, he interspersed appropriately endearing songs to further the narrative or add "color" commentary. In the case of "Silver And Gold", Sam was commenting on Yukon Cornelius' love of precious metals and perhaps making a more universal comment on the commercialization of Christmas. "Yukon Cornelius" - as voiced by Larry Mann, from Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer Sam the snowman concluded that silver and gold were best used to enhance the incredible colors of a Christmas tree, not to be seen as objects of worship.
Perhaps that is a theme an ancient King should have had sung to him by a banjo-wielding snowman...
In chapter 2 of the book of Daniel, our protagonist revealed a vision and the interpretation of that vision to the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The king acknowledged the God of Daniel as a "God of gods". This acknowledgment lasted about as long as a candy cane on a Christmas tree. Well, actually 20 years pass, and Nebuchadnezzar decides based on the destruction of the image in his vision, he would make a statue that couldn't be so easily decimated. When it was completed this statue was 90 feet tall and nearly 10 feet wide statue and was made of solid gold.
Daniel's previous interpretation included Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom as a head of gold on the statue which had other portions of more inferior material as its torso and base, representing following world powers that would not last either. While we aren't exactly told what this new image was, it isn't too much of a leap to surmise that the image that Nebuchadnezzar had made of pure gold was...well...Nebuchadnezzar's head.
The king gathers all of his officials and has his herald proclaim that "...As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ..." Why, oh why, did he have to get music involved? The repercussions for not worshiping the image? Good! You did remember the story!! That's right! If one failed to bow they became kindling for the king's central heating unit.
Something to consider. Babylon at the time was THE world power. The Bible records that ALL nations were to bow to this image when they heard the music. In our current geopolitical clime, we must guard against the tendency of current world power's ideologies being implemented on everyone else in the world. This includes the philosophies of the United States. This is not a criticism, just an observation that as Believers, we must be careful to not let our nationalism become our golden image... And now back to our regularly scheduled blog...
The Jews of the land are quickly accused of being disobedient to the new "hear the song, bow the knee" rule. Those of the court officials received the highest scrutiny and were the closest, easiest targets to accuse as they could serve as an example to the rest of the country, that's right, the Jews serving as King's officials were the first to be accused. The first targets were our friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (not sure where Daniel was when all this went down...maybe he was busy penning a prophecy about a star...)
King Nebi is furious and summons our heroes. When questioned about the situation, they reply..." If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”..." Wow! Talk about having faith in God!
Something else to consider. There are many references to images and bowing in worship to them included in the Revelation of Jesus Christ (Revelations). Those left behind would do well to memorize the above passage from Daniel 3...
The rest of the story is miraculous. Our 3 friends get tossed into the furnace that was so hot it cremated some of the guards tossing them in. Nebi later goes to follow up on their demise and gets a big surprise. Not only are our boys hanging out praising God for a break from the cold but they are joined by someone else that Nebuchadnezzar describes as "like the Son of God" Yes, at the worst possible moment in the Hebrew children's lives, Jesus shows up at the best possible time. Sage wisdom for us to hang our hat, or ornaments on today.
This story is incredible and miraculous and should be told as often as we can share it with others, but what brought our narrative to this point? How is it that such a proclamation (misusing music to boot!!!) ever came into existence? Look around. The same motivation exists today. 'Tis the season to make lists of what we WANT. Sure, those are lists that are requested by friends and family to make sure their generosity is rewarded, but let's cut to the brass (or silver and gold!) tacks shall we?
Inherent in our beings is something the Bible calls IDOLATRY. It happened from the moment Adam and Eve chose to do what THEY wanted instead of what GOD commanded. I recently heard a great definition of Idolatry: "finding ultimate significance in created things, then giving ultimate allegiance to these things that are not God." Romans 1-4 Overview - The Bible Project
This season allows us to showcase our generosity, to truly show where our allegiance lies. Let's not be a season for our idolatry to be on display. Nebuchadnezzar couldn't get past himself long enough to see that God was working all around him. He even came into the presence of Jesus and didn't repent for making the image. He could not get over his self-indulgence and self-promotion long enough to see the silver and gold in the people that God had placed around him.
This Christmas, as we adorn the Christmas tree with ornaments, ribbons, and silver and gold, let's be reminded of the generosity of God. He gave Himself in the form of Jesus, the Son, to make sure that we have an opportunity to be restored to Him. This year let's make the "...silver and gold mean so much more when we see...
'Til Tuesday
Loving HIM and Loving You,
randy
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