Advent Devotion Day Three
December 3rd
One of the most wonderful aspects of the Advent Season is how it so beautifully captures the tension between angst and comfort; yearning and satisfaction; and eager anticipation and the fulfillment of promise.
One of the familiar songs that we sing at Christmas that best portrays the essence of the advent season is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
This anthem’s lyrics can be traced all the way back to the medieval church. During the seven nights leading up to Christmas, the church would sing a verse of the song. Each of the verses starts with a prayer that begins with the phrase, “O Come,” and includes an Old Testament reference for Jesus Christ—the Messiah. This liturgy was designed to concentrate the mind on the coming Christmas!
The first Old Testament title given to the one who would eventually crush the head of the serpent was Immanuel, or “God with us”. You’ll remember that we referenced this in the passage that we preached from this past Sunday, Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel”
As we noted Sunday, at the time of this wonderful prophecy, Gods people desperately needed a reminder that the Lord is not slack concerning His promises, and that He was faithful and true.
We need that reminder, too.
When we sing the first few words of this song, we can remember the depth of God’s love for us by sending His Son Jesus—God wrapped in flesh—to rescue us from our sins and ourselves.
This ancient Advent hymn reminds us of the duality of the season: the expectation of the birth of Christ and his return at the second coming. Each line speaks to us in this season as we long for the presence of the Messiah... a presence that is our present reality in Christ.
Read through this beautiful Advent hymn and soak it in today.
O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free. Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease and be Thyself our King of peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Personal Reflection:
The hymn speaks of waiting for Emmanuel, which means "God with us." How does this longing for God's presence resonate with the themes of hope and anticipation that are central to the Advent season?
The hymn uses rich imagery such as "captive Israel," "ransom," and "mourning in lonely exile." What do these images suggest about the human condition, both historically and today?
How do these symbols enhance the overall theme of deliverance and salvation in the song?
What does the hymn teach about patience and trusting in God's timing, especially in the context of a world that often seems to be in a hurry?
Prayer Prompt:
Pray that the Lord would develop in you a longer for His return that mirrors the longing Israel experienced for His first coming.
One of the familiar songs that we sing at Christmas that best portrays the essence of the advent season is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”
This anthem’s lyrics can be traced all the way back to the medieval church. During the seven nights leading up to Christmas, the church would sing a verse of the song. Each of the verses starts with a prayer that begins with the phrase, “O Come,” and includes an Old Testament reference for Jesus Christ—the Messiah. This liturgy was designed to concentrate the mind on the coming Christmas!
The first Old Testament title given to the one who would eventually crush the head of the serpent was Immanuel, or “God with us”. You’ll remember that we referenced this in the passage that we preached from this past Sunday, Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: See, the virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel”
As we noted Sunday, at the time of this wonderful prophecy, Gods people desperately needed a reminder that the Lord is not slack concerning His promises, and that He was faithful and true.
We need that reminder, too.
When we sing the first few words of this song, we can remember the depth of God’s love for us by sending His Son Jesus—God wrapped in flesh—to rescue us from our sins and ourselves.
This ancient Advent hymn reminds us of the duality of the season: the expectation of the birth of Christ and his return at the second coming. Each line speaks to us in this season as we long for the presence of the Messiah... a presence that is our present reality in Christ.
Read through this beautiful Advent hymn and soak it in today.
O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free. Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save and give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer, our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease and be Thyself our King of peace
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Personal Reflection:
The hymn speaks of waiting for Emmanuel, which means "God with us." How does this longing for God's presence resonate with the themes of hope and anticipation that are central to the Advent season?
The hymn uses rich imagery such as "captive Israel," "ransom," and "mourning in lonely exile." What do these images suggest about the human condition, both historically and today?
How do these symbols enhance the overall theme of deliverance and salvation in the song?
What does the hymn teach about patience and trusting in God's timing, especially in the context of a world that often seems to be in a hurry?
Prayer Prompt:
Pray that the Lord would develop in you a longer for His return that mirrors the longing Israel experienced for His first coming.
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