Day 2: Emmanuel
Yesterday, we defined Advent as “the arrival“. When we know something, or someone, is coming, we await with great anticipation. From Creation to the Fall… From the Fall to the Law… From the Law to the judges… From the judges to the kings… And from kings through the Prophets… all of Israel was waiting for God to come.
They were waiting for God to be with them. They were waiting for Immanuel.
Almost two thousand years ago, a poet wrote a seven verse poem. In 1851, John Mason Neale took that poem and penned what we now know as O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.
Read the below verses slowly, letting the rhythm of the words rise and fall with the tune in your mind. Then, turn the volume up (way up), sit back, close your eyes, and enjoy The Piano Guys musical interpretation at the end. I hope you are as blessed as I was by it.
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.
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