The Christmas classic that I look forward to the most each year is Little Drummer Boy. I posted the lyrics and a bit of history yesterday. Now, I can see the flaws in this song. It’s musically rudimentary. I think there may be three chords in the entire piece. Lyrically, as some of you have pointed out, its repetitive drum call outs can sound like nails on a chalkboard to some people. And, of course, during my research I found a minor scandal that seems to surround the popular version’s legitimate creators. All that said, Little Drummer Boy stands as one of the most theologically perfect songs in all of Christendom. From the opening line, the song bases itself firmly upon the Gospel in that the arrival of “Baby Jesu” appeals to the singer (the Little Drummer Boy himself) in a direct and personal manner. “Come, they told me,” speaks directly to the one singing the story. More than just being a lyrical first-person device, our Little Drummer Boy recognizes that the call of this “new born King” is not made to a kingdom, nor even to an entire world. Rather, he hears it as a personal invitation. This invitation to come to Christ is followed by a feeling all too familiar to those of us who have heeded Him. “Our finest gifts we bring . . .” come the words of the Magi. And we feel that same feeling our imaginary Little Drummer Boy voices. We are not worthy to make this decision. Here are great people, good people, wealthy people, decent people. They deserve to have a Savior. But what can I possibly have that Jesus wants? “Little Baby . . . I am a poor boy, too – pa rum pum pum pum
“I have no gift to bring - pa rum pum pum pum
“To lay before a King - pa rum pum pum pum So we stand there . . . before the One whose very presence on Earth represents Almighty God’s love for us. And we feel unworthy. Just like our Little Drummer Boy. But, even in this insignificance we feel before a King, there is recognition. If this is a king, He must be a very different kind of King. The fact that He is calling me is unusual enough . . . but, look at Him. Helpless and poor. We know what that’s like. And, yet, we’re called to Him. He is one of us. Emmanuel – God living like one of us. So, hesitantly and self-consciously, we ask “Is this good enough?” And the woman whose faith brought forth a Man Who Would Have No Sin responds for her Child and nods. Come to Him, she affirms. Our Little Drummer Boy is only that. Musically simple, the drum was a common instrument in ancient temples of the Mediterranean world. We do not know if our Little Drummer Boy was a drummer for a Hebrew temple, Hellenic (Greek) temple or one of any of a dozen different religions. It is possible he was one of the many young boys in training for a career in the Roman military, where a child as young as ten-years-old could be a legionary mascot and carry the cadence during a march. But, hearing the call of Wise Men, following them to the feet of a baby King, seeing the love of a family – something the Little Drummer Boy may seldom or never have known – he responds by doing the only thing at which he excels. “I played my drum for Him - pa rum pum pum pum
“I played my best for Him - pa rum pum pum pum” Here we are reminded that Christ is not reigning over gold or frankincense or myrrh. He does not seek the wealth of the kings of this earth. He is dealing a different currency. He has come to rule over the Kingdom of Heaven – and you and I and our Little Drummer Boy carry within ourselves the treasure He seeks to build it. Finishing, our Little Drummer Boy has offered himself to Jesus. He is humble and poor and probably a little embarrassed as he rises to look upon the face of the One Who Will One Day Save Him. “Then, He smiled at me - pa rum pum pum pum
“Me and my drum” In his obedience to the presence of Jesus in his life, in his overcoming the fear of the world’s judgment if he follows, in his offering his very best to Christ no matter what the cost, and finally in receiving the blessing of the new born King of the Universe, our Little Drummer Boy has lived out in a few short verses each one of our own stories of love and salvation. Christmas is simple. The Little Drummer Boy tells the story of Christmas the way it is intended for each of us. Simply, personally . . . magnificently.
_____________________________________________________________
*EDITOR'S NOTE: A fellow Xangan, The_Female_Essence, has produced a very unique and haunting digital version of "The Little Drummer Boy". It's worth checking out. I'm also referring people to the Vienna Boy's Choir version because I couldn't find a Jack Halloran or Perry Como version on Amazon. | 
