You've probably heard the question, “Can anything good come out of”—and then, they give the name of the town. In Jesus' time, a guy named Nathaniel famously asked this of an amazing Teacher in his area known as Jesus, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). There are two questions like this connected to this month's hymn. One is, “Can anything good come out of Brighton, England?” This British city on the English channel, about two hours' drive south of London, has actually been the home address of many celebrities, including author Rudyard Kipling. Lesser known names are connected to Christian hymns, including Charlotte Elliott, who wrote “Just As I Am,” and her niece Emily Elliott, an Anglican minister's daughter.
Like many church women of the Victorian era, Emily was involved in service to rescue missions and Sunday school roles. That included editing a magazine for Sunday school workers, and writing poems and hymn lyrics. A collection of 48 of her hymn lyrics was published under the title, Under the Pillow, intended as bedside reading for the sick in hospitals, infirmaries, or at home.
Perhaps the second question would be: "Can anything good come out of Bethlehem?" The answer is a resounding, prophecy-fulfilling YES! This hymn grew out of her desire to express Biblical truths to children in simple ways. That included the amazing theological truth that God sent His Son in the form of a baby to eventually die as our Savior from sins. She captured those opposites in the hymn's opening lines:
Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown,
When thou camest to earth for me;
This is the hymn of “buts”--
“But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room...”
“But of lowly birth didst thou come to earth....”
“But thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God...”
“But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn, they bore thee to Calvary.”
Her hymn covers birth to eternal life--with the last line an invitation:
When the heavens shall ring and the angels sing
At thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yes, there is room,
“There is room at My side for thee.”
And my heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest me.
The hymn tune for her lyrics was composed by Timothy Matthews, an English clergyman and one of the leading organists of his day, responsible for some one hundred hymn tunes.
A Christmas song? Yes, and it's often placed among hymns celebrating Jesus' birth. But its lyrics remind us that we not only celebrate a baby in a manger, but His purpose as a Savior.
This link goes to a choral performance of the hymn's first verse:
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne - The Majesty and Glory Performers [with lyrics] - Bing video
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