December 22 

Away in a Manger 

TEXT: Anonymous

The author of “Away in a Manger” is uncertain. Most hymnologists believe that an American probably wrote at least the first two verses sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century. The Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first to publish this carol, beloved by children, in its Little Children’s Book: For School and Families (1885). Two years later, hymn writer James R. Murray published it in Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses. He must have heard the legend of Martin Luther’s authorship since he titled it “Luther’s Cradle Hymn,” mistakenly claiming Luther had written it and sung it to his children every night. The third verse appeared in a collection called Vineyard Songs published in 1892 by Charles Gabriel.

TUNE: William James Kirkpatrick

b. February 27, 1838, Duncannon, Pennsylvania

d. September 20, 1921, Germantown, Pennsylvania

There are two tunes commonly used for this carol: MUELLER and the less common CRADLE SONG, used more outside of America and included here. This tune is attributed to William Kirkpatrick but is almost identical to the Scottish folk song, “Flow Gently, Sweet Afton.” Both tunes have the beauty and simplicity of folk songs and could be called lullabies. At least forty-one tunes have been used for this text.

As you sing this hymn … you may not be trying to lull a child to sleep, but the poem and melody do paint an idyllic picture of Jesus’ birthplace. Possibly a barn or stable, it also may have been a lower level part of the home where animals could gather against cold. The Bible does not say “the cattle are lowing” or that Jesus was “asleep on the hay.” But it does declare in Luke 2:7, 12, and 16 that He was in a manger. “Manger” comes from a Latin word that means “chew” or “eat” and is clearly a trough for animals. Surely Joseph or Mary would have cleaned it out as best they could and covered it with cloths including the swaddling cloths the angel described. But the angels’ identifying sign for the shepherds to seek was a baby in a manger. How unlikely!

The manger was no accident. John Piper says:

It becomes ludicrous to think that a God who wields an empire to move one woman from Nazareth to Bethlehem can’t arrange for there to be an available guest room. Planning a bed for his Son was easier than planning a global census. Jesus was lying in exactly the place God planned: a feeding trough … The Messiah is in a feeding trough! Glory to God! The Lord is in a feeding trough! “Glory to God in the highest!” From the highest to the lowest! …The manger was step one on the Calvary road. The Calvary road is downhill. Not because it gets easier, but because it gets lower. The Savior’s life starts low and ends lower, on a cross.³⁴

Was baby Jesus’ divine nature so perfectly contented that it is true, “no crying he makes”? Crying is a gift of communication from God so babies can let us know they need something. We know Jesus, the man, is recorded as weeping. We also know that we also can cry out, “be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask thee to stay … love me I pray.” And He will.