HOW THE "OLD & NEW TESTATAMENT CHRISTMAS" ALBUM CAME TOGETHER:
Piecing together what the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament witnesses had to say about Christ's birth, Drenon Carlyle wrote all 10 lyrics over a period of several years. In August of 2020, Teresa Jordan agreed to compose the music. After she sent him each composition, he would hear them for the first time and sometimes make suggestions. But he always told her his worst fear was that she would ever take his advice about how to compose the music.
The voices of the Magi can still be heard today when someone asks, "Where is He that was born King of the Jews." We hope the "Old & New Testament Christmas" album will answer that for someone.
THE FIRST MAGI:
The Magi came to Jerusalem with great pomp and many soldiers tasked with guarding the gold and other treasures for the Eternal King. Herod, who had purchased his kingdom from Rome and all those who had purchased their power from him, felt threatened by both the Magi and by the news of the birth of a more powerful King who would displace Herod, Matthew 2.
Coming from Babylon, the Magi must have known when the Messiah would come. Captive Daniel, referenced it in Daniel 9 and Balaam prophesied earlier that it would be when Jacob‘s Star appeared, Numbers 24:17. However, the Magi didn’t arrive until after Jesus was taken to the family home in Nazareth. How do we know that? Because a Hebrew boy had to be circumcised on the 8th day and his mother would be unclean for another 30 days. When Jesus was dedicated to God by Simeon the High Priest in Jerusalem, Joseph and Mary offered two young birds as a sacrifice. This was acceptable only for the poorest of the poor. If they had made an extremely large offering taken from treasure, it would have caused quite a stir. Luke 2:39 says "And after they did what was required of the law, they went directly home to Nazareth." We don't know when the Magi arrived, but from Matt 2:11 we do know "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary his mother." Joseph isn't mentioned. Some researchers believe the Magi came as long as two years after Jesus' birth. They didn't know exactly where this Eternal King would be born, because they had to ask Herod if he knew. Herod's advisors had to search the scriptures to find that it would be in Bethlehem Ephrathah.
BORN IN BETHLEHEM EPHRATHAH, BUT IN STABLE WITH COWS & HORSES?
David, who watched over Shiloh's temple sheep, wrote of future shepherds seeing the "dwelling place" of God in Psalms 132:6&7 "Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah; We found it in the fields of the woods. Let us go into His tabernacle (dwelling place); Let us worship at His footstool." Centuries later, the prophet Micah, in Micah 4:8 says a king would be born to a daughter of Zion within the “Tower of the Flock” (sheep), a rock structure that wasn't even built until centuries after both David and Micah. When the tower was built, it stood in the "Field of the Woods", the very field David watched over sheep in. It sat above Rachael’s tomb with the city of Jerusalem on the horizon. The field has also been know as "Ya'ar's Field", probable named for one of it's first owners, and was linked to Abraham and Jacob. And it was the field Ruth and Boaz first met in. They were the parents of Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. And finally, it was called "Migdal Eder". Migdal meaning tower and Eder meaning flock. Our songs reveal these scriptures and more.
1. "As A Lamb He'll Come" reminds us how the Messiah would come the first time. The Lord, through Moses, instructed the Israelites in Egypt to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb just before He delivered them.
2. "Frankincense & Myrrh" reminds us what the Messiah would be like at His first appearing.
3. "Tower Of The Flock" reveals exactly where the Messiah would be born according to the prophets Micah and David. Much thanks to who have written on this subject and to Gary Stearman for his December 2016 article in "Prophecy Watchers" magazine.
4. "Daniel You See More Than We Do" reminds us all that captive Daniel saw centuries into the future the events of the Messiah's birth.
5. "Sleep On Bethlehem" reminds us that though Balaam, David and Micah revealed Bethlehem-Ephratah would be where the Messiah would be born. Yet, none were looking for Him when the time came. And it may be the same for us at His second appearing.
6. "Mary's Song". We know this song is inspired because Mary sang it just after Gabriel revealed that she would be the Christ Child's mother, and then Holy Spirit included in our Bibles. I simply rewrote it in English.
7. “That First Christmas Night” reminds us how humble and lowly the birth of Christ was.
8. "This Child" lays out the future work of Christ in our healings and redemption.
9. "The Holy Dedication" reminds us that the Lord always has someone who is looking for the Savior and is willing to accept Him even if He doesn't come in the way expected. The desiples as well as most of Israel was expecting a Savior to deliver them from the hated Romans.
10. "Camels In The Street" reminds us that the Magi came after Jesus was dedicated by Simeon the High Priest at the temple in Jerusalem, because Josheph and Mary made offering of 2 young birds, an offering only the poorest of the poor was allowed. They possesed no treasure. It also reminds us that Jesus was then taken directly home to Nazareth.