His Faithfulness through the Darkness

by Jonathan Teat

First recorded in 1784, "All Through the Night" is a Welsh harp melody most often sung as a Christmas carol or lullaby. Though several variations and verses have been identified over the years, this beautiful and soothing hymn is a peaceful reminder of God's faithfulness through his presence with us remains intact.

The lyrics of this Christmas carol hymn portrays the imagery of God's presence and grants us reassurance that we are secure in relationship with him "all through the night." Psalm 42:8 reminds us that "by day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me." Furthermore, in Psalm 91 we see that with God as our "refuge and fortress” we are not to "fear the terror of the night."

Night and the cover of darkness are often associated in Scripture with the contrasting light of day and the new creation that we become through the person and work of Jesus Christ and our justification through faith by God's grace. As Paul writes to the church in the Roman city of Thessalonica, "For you are all children of light, children of the day…having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation…so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him." (1 Thessalonians 5:5, 5:8, 5:10)

During Advent this year, let us be grateful to God for his presence with us each day and night, and as a result of God's faithfulness demonstrated by and through Jesus Christ, find peace in that we are heirs with Christ "the true light, which enlightens everyone" and can look toward the day when "night will be no more" (John 1:9; Revelation 22:5).

Click the play button above to hear "All Through The Night" performed by Josh Nivens

Recording Engineer: Josh Nivens | Welsh Folk Song | Arranged by: Josh Nivens

Jonathan Teat, Vice President for Administrative Affairs at Dallas Baptist University, is a current Ph.D. in Leadership Studies student with a concentration in Business.

Josh Nivens graduated with a Music Business degree from Dallas Baptist University.