Have you ever just been in a crowded place and just needed to step out for some peace? Whether it’s for a holiday family gathering or just a regular weeknight dinner, we can all get a little overstimulated from time to time. Thinking of this, you can likely relate to the author of this week’s hymn, R. Fisher Boyce (1887-1968) when he snuck away from a house full of children to write “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” in 1938. Boyce resided with his family in Tennessee on a dairy farm, so when he was trying to write out a song that was on his heart but couldn’t find the concentration to do so, he walked across the road to a barn to find some peace and quiet. (That is, assuming the cows were quiet, and in my own experience with my cows, that is hit or miss, depending on their moo-d – get it?)
Boyce had always loved music, and it is recorded that he was singing quartet solos by the early 1900s. He married Cora Carlton in the spring of 1910, and together they had eleven children – although only five lived into adulthood. Willie Ruth Eads, one of their daughters, recalled how much music influenced their household growing up: “The neighbors would come in, and we’d all gather around our family piano. My sister Nanny Lou (Taylor) would play, and we would sing way into the night.”
If you look in a hymnal, you may see someone else credited as the writer of “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” – Adger M. Pace (1882-1959). From the year 1920, he served for 37 years as the music editor for all Vaughan publications, which was the company who published Boyce’s hymn – and never paid him any royalties that he was due as the hymn’s true author. While Pace arranged Boyce’s song for a quartet arrangement for publishing, it would appear that he wrongfully took credit as both “author” and “harmonizer” for the hymn.
The hymn tells the story of the Star of Bethlehem, which guided the Wise Men to the manger where Jesus was born. It is a celebration of the birth of Christ and a reminder of the hope and joy that his coming brought to the world. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and they capture the essence of the Christmas story in a way that is both moving and inspiring.
The hymn focuses on the theme of light, which is a constant and recurring theme in the Bible and is closely associated with Jesus. From the very beginning of the Bible, in the book of Genesis, God creates light on the first day of creation, separating it from the darkness. Later, in the book of Exodus, God leads the Israelites out of Egypt with a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day, providing them with light in the darkness.
In the New Testament, Jesus himself is often referred to as “the light of the world.” In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). This statement emphasizes the idea that Jesus is the source of spiritual light and guidance, leading people out of the darkness of sin and into the light of salvation. Furthermore, in the Gospel of Matthew, the birth of Jesus is announced by a star that appears in the sky – the “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” – leading the Magi to the baby Jesus. This star is often interpreted as a symbol of the light of Christ shining in the darkness of the world.
The theme of light also appears in the book of Revelation, where the New Jerusalem is described as a city “with the glory of God, and its radiance was like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:11). This description suggests that the city is filled with the light of God’s presence, illuminating everything within it.
The concept of light is a recurring theme in the Bible, and it centers on Jesus as the source of spiritual light and guidance. Whether it is through the creation of light in the beginning, the pillar of fire that guided the Israelites, the star that announced Jesus’ birth, or the radiance of the New Jerusalem, light is a powerful symbol of God’s presence and Jesus’ role in leading people out of darkness and into the light of salvation.
No matter what time of year it is, it is always a good time to remember the “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem” and what it meant for all of humanity. “Jesus is now that star divine, brighter and brighter He will shine; beautiful Star of Bethlehem, shine on (shine on).”
Do you have a hymn you would like to know more about? Feel free to send in a request to savannah.pearce@bibbcommunitymedia.com or by giving us a call. I would love to hear from you!
