The Light Came Down

Josh Garrels' “The Light Came Down” is an Advent and Christmas song about the arrival of Christ as light in darkness. It begins with the image of a “bright star shining in the dark night” where “old tales come true.” The next lines say that all the fears, hopes and prayers of the people were heard and answered.

The chorus declares what happened: “The light came down, cast the darkness away.” God appeared as “a helpless child,” and the lyric calls it “a new day dawning” in which “old things pass, all things made new.” The second half looks back at the promises, noting that prophets spoke of all he would accomplish, when “the light of God would dwell with men.” The song then states the purpose of that coming: “The light of God came to save us, to the world that He made us.” It ends with a word of praise, “O Lord and Savior, Alleluia.” The arrangement is gentle, and the images are simple enough that it fits a candlelight service or a quiet time at home in December.

Light shining in darkness is John 1:5. People walking in darkness seeing a great light is Isaiah 9:2, and the birth of a Savior is Luke 2:11.