Title: Once In Royal David’s City
Hymn Number: SS&S 32 (Sacred songs and solo)
1 Once in royal David’s city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her Baby,
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.
2 He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, and mean, and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour holy.
3 And through all His wondrous child-
He would honour and obey, [hood
Love and watch the lowly mother
In whose gentle arms He lay.
Christian children all must be
Mild,obedient, good as He.
4 For He is our childhood’s pattern,
Day by day like us He grew ;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew ;
And He feeleth for our sadness,
And He shareth in our gladness.
5 And our eyes at last shall see Hirn
Through His own redeeming love,
For that Child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in heaven above ;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.
6 Not in that poor lowly stable,
With the oxen standing by,
We shall see Him– but in heaven,
Set at God’s right hand on high;
When like stars His children crowned,
All in white shall wait around.
About The Hymn
The hymn “Once in Royal David’s City”, numbered 32 in Sacred Songs and Solos, was written by Cecil Frances Alexander in 1848. It is a beautiful and reflective Christmas hymn that tells the story of Christ’s humble birth in Bethlehem and connects it to His life, ministry, and eventual return in glory. With six verses, the hymn progresses from the simplicity of the Nativity scene to profound theological truths about Jesus’ humanity, divinity, and eternal reign.
Verse 1: The Humble Birth in Bethlehem
The hymn begins:
“Once in royal David’s city stood a lowly cattle shed, where a mother laid her baby in a manger for His bed.”
This opening verse sets the scene of Jesus’ birth, highlighting its simplicity and humility. The reference to “royal David’s city” connects the event to Old Testament prophecy, emphasizing Jesus as the promised descendant of King David.
The imagery of a “lowly cattle shed” and a “manger for His bed” underscores the stark contrast between Jesus’ divine nature and the humble circumstances of His arrival. This verse reflects the theme of God choosing the weak and lowly things of the world to accomplish His purposes.
Verse 2: The Son of God Becoming Human
The second verse declares:
“He came down to earth from heaven, who is God and Lord of all, and His shelter was a stable, and His cradle was a stall.”
Here, the hymn captures the profound mystery of the Incarnation: the eternal Son of God chose to come down from the glory of heaven to dwell among humanity. Despite being the “Lord of all,” He was born in poverty and humility.
The verse conveys the depth of Christ’s love, as He willingly took on human form to fulfill God’s plan of redemption. It invites worshippers to marvel at the self-giving nature of Jesus’ mission.
Verse 3: Jesus as a Model of Obedience and Humility
The third verse shifts focus to Jesus’ childhood:
“And through all His wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey, love and watch the lowly maiden in whose gentle arms He lay.”
This verse emphasizes Jesus’ obedience and humility, even as a child. It portrays Him as a model of perfect submission and love, especially toward Mary, His earthly mother.
By highlighting His humanity, the hymn reminds believers that Jesus experienced life as we do, growing up in a family and learning to honor and obey.
Verse 4: The Example for Christian Living
The fourth verse extends the message of Jesus’ life to believers:
“For He is our childhood’s pattern; day by day, like us He grew; He was little, weak, and helpless, tears and smiles, like us He knew.”
This verse reinforces Jesus’ full humanity, showing that He shared in the common experiences of human life, including joy and sorrow.
It also presents Jesus as a model for Christian living, inspiring believers to follow His example of humility, obedience, and compassion. His identification with human frailty makes Him an approachable and relatable Savior.
Verse 5: The Promise of Eternal Glory
The fifth verse points to the ultimate hope of salvation:
“And our eyes at last shall see Him, through His own redeeming love; for that child so dear and gentle is our Lord in heaven above.”
This verse shifts the focus from Jesus’ earthly life to His exalted position in heaven. It reminds worshippers that the baby in the manger is also the risen Lord who reigns eternally.
The reference to “redeeming love” highlights the purpose of Jesus’ coming: to bring salvation to humanity. The verse inspires hope, assuring believers that one day they will see Jesus face-to-face.
Verse 6: The Heavenly Kingdom
The final verse concludes with a vision of heaven:
“Not in that poor lowly stable, with the oxen standing by, we shall see Him; but in heaven, set at God’s right hand on high.”
This verse contrasts the humility of Jesus’ first coming with the glory of His second coming. It affirms that the same Savior who was born in a stable will one day be revealed in all His majesty.
It ends with the hope of eternal joy:
“Where like stars His children crowned all in white shall wait around.”
This imagery of believers as stars, clothed in white and surrounding the throne, is drawn from Revelation. It points to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise: eternal life with Christ in His heavenly kingdom.
Overall Message and Significance
“Once in Royal David’s City” is a hymn that beautifully combines the simplicity of the Nativity story with profound theological truths. It begins with the humble circumstances of Jesus’ birth and progresses to His life, His role as a model for believers, and His ultimate glory in heaven.
The hymn emphasizes the mystery of the Incarnation—God becoming man—and the hope of redemption through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. It invites worshippers to reflect on the humility of Christ’s first coming while anticipating the glory of His return.
Its gentle yet majestic melody, often used as a processional hymn at Christmas, makes it a timeless piece for worship, reminding believers of the love, humility, and hope found in Christ.