I love reading the Old Testament prophesies and seeing how Jesus fulfilled them. Sometimes I forget, though, that those who lived during that time had to wait for Jesus. Generations and generations of people heard the prophets and told the stories of the coming Messiah around the dinner table. They waited dark nights and lonely mornings. They remembered God’s goodness and that He is faithful to keep his promises and waited for years for the Messiah.
Fortunately God isn’t like a late, apathetic guest. He was waiting with a purpose, for the right moment when Jesus’ birth could be fulfilled and very soon a bright light would break the darkness and the Word would break the silence.
One of my favorite Christmas carols is “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” It is dripping with longing and expectant hope. The lyrics are beautiful and the melody is dark and somber. I discovered a new version this year that I absolutely love. I’ve always felt that the cello was the best instrument to capture the emotion of this song. Listen to it today and read over the lyrics.
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!
Jess Ponder 