For years we lived in a small town in Southwest Montana. On one of our first visits there we were walking down the street when the fire siren went off. It blew long and loud, we were startled to say the least.
Come to find out, that’s how they announced the noon hour to everyone in town. At twelve o’clock the alarm rang! We learned to get used to it and we also learned that if it rang at any other time it was a call to bring the volunteer fire fighters to their posts. That sound brought assistance and silent prayers to those who were in need.
In towns throughout the world the sound of the church bells tell another story. They ring-in celebration; weddings, births, liberation. Is it any wonder that there are so many carols with bells mentioned in them? Silver Bells, Jingle Bells, Carol of the Bells.
What should be more celebrated than the birth of Christ?
I wanted to find out if there was any reference in Scripture to bells. I only found a couple of verses and they really had nothing to do with celebrating. But wait…maybe they do.
“Â Make pomegranates of blue and purple and red cloth to put all around the bottom of this clothing. And put bells of gold between them. 34Â Put a gold bell and a pomegranate, then a gold bell and a pomegranate, all the way around the bottom of this clothing. 35Â Aaron will wear it when he serves Me. The sound of the bells will be heard when he goes in the holy place and when he comes out so that he will not die.” Exodus 28:33-35 NLV
These verses describe the special garment that the high priest, Aaron, was to wear when he went into the holiest place in the tabernacle to meet with the Lord. It was in this place where the Ark of the Covenant, the stone tablet with the Ten Commandments, and the other sacred things of the Lord were housed. This was the place where the high priest went to receive forgiveness from the Lord for the sins of the people.
Around the hem of his garment were bells. The bells would ring to indicate that the high priest was meeting with the Lord. Meeting there to obtain remission of sins and to find mercy. It was a meeting of the highest importance, only happened once a year, and it was a time of great joy for the people of Israel. They knew that God had accepted their sacrifice and forgiven their sins.
Yes, ringing bells were a sound of celebration!
Here are the words to our youngest daughter’s favorite Christmas Carol.
Carol of the Bells
Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold.
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling.
One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air.
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o’er hill and dale,
telling their tale.
Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here.
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas,
Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas.
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home.
Ding dong ding dong!
Ding, dong, ding, dong Christmas bells are ringing.
On Saturday, while I was out for a bit, I was greeted with that sweet sound, the ringing of the bell. There was a dear man wearing the uniform of the Salvation Army standing at his kettle, ringing his bell of good cheer. He warmly smiled and offered everyone that past his way a joyful “Merry Christmas, God bless you.”
Each time you hear the celebratory anthem of the bells this year, stop for a moment, give thanks for the marvelous gift they remind us of; the gift of being in God’s presence and having our sins forgiven.
