《哪有歌曲更甜蜜》原是公元17世紀的詩人羅伯特．赫里克（Robert Herrick）的詩作，詩中寫道：「還有何曲更甜蜜？勝過頌歌齊唱起，歡迎天上君王降生世間裡！」後來，作曲家約翰．盧特（John Rutter）將其重新編曲，成為深受喜愛的將臨期詩歌。這首詩歌柔和的旋律描繪經過一段漫長、寒冷的等待，直到耶穌降生，才帶來如春天般的溫暖。歌唱者以聖誕詩歌敬拜耶穌，並邀請聽眾獻上發自內心的頌讚。

盧特受委託編寫這首歌曲是配合教會誦讀馬太福音2章1-2節，講述幾位博士不遠千里而來，朝拜嬰孩耶穌。當他們終於找到耶穌的時候，就「大大地歡喜」，俯伏在地敬拜祂，並打開寶盒，將黃金、乳香、沒藥獻給祂（10-11節）。後來，這些博士在夢中得到指示，不要回去見殘暴的希律王，便改道返回自己的家鄉（12節）。

聖誕節的重點不在於物質上的禮物，但這節日確實是與「給予」和「接受」有關。上帝把祂的兒子賜給我們，為要醫治這破碎的世界。若是我們從未向祂敞開心門，那麼今天正是時候！若祂已在我們心中作王，那就讓我們獻上和平與歡樂的頌歌，思想千百年前祂降生在伯利恆，並等候祂的再來。

“What sweeter music can we bring/ Than a carol for to sing/ The birth of this our heavenly King?” The lines of this seventeenth-century poem “What Sweeter Music” by Robert Herrick were reimagined by modern-day choral composer John Rutter to become an Advent season favorite. Its gentle melody describes a long, cold season of waiting that’s thawed by the springtime feeling of Jesus’ arrival. The singers bring Him a Christmas carol; the listeners are invited to bring their hearts.

Rutter’s arrangement was commissioned to correspond with a church reading on the wise men who brought Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. These mysterious magi traveled a great distance to meet baby Jesus with the express purpose of worshiping Him (Matthew 2:1-2). When they finally found Him, they “were overjoyed,” bowed down in reverence, and “opened their treasures” at His feet (vv. 10-11). Warned in a dream, they left without informing wicked King Herod (v. 12).

The Christmas season shouldn’t focus on material gifts—but it’s certainly about giving and receiving gifts. God gave His Son to heal a broken world. If we’ve never given Him our hearts, today’s a wonderful day to do so. If He already reigns there, let’s offer a carol of peace and joy as we think about His arrival all those years ago in Bethlehem—and wait for His return.