During this Christmas season our weekly studies are designed to help you meditate on the advent of our Lord through the wonderful hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and related scriptures. The author of this 9th century hymn is unknown. It was translated from Latin to English in 1851 by John M. Neale in Mediaeval Hymns. Thomas Helmore arranged the musical score to a 15th century French Melody. To listen to the music and to read all the verses go to: www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocomocom.htm

EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appears.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many"(Mark 10:45). What a glorious truth! Jesus came to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and death, just as Moses before Him was sent to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh. God commanded Pharaoh through Moses to let His people go so they could worship Him (Exodus 4:23.) Christ's blood was shed for that very same reason, that we would be free to worship God and to offer our bodies as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1).

For hundreds of years, at different times throughout the ages, the Israelites were held captive by their enemies. During one period of political upheaval, Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Christ Child, the One who would reign forever on David's throne, with the government on his shoulders. His name would be Emmanuel, which means, God with us (Matthew 1:23).

Although Christ has come and paid the ransom to set His people free from all oppression, we will not experience our complete freedom until the second coming of Christ, when all of creation will be liberated from the bondage of decay and we will be brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Romans 8:21).

Until Christ returns in judgment to lead us to our heavenly home in the "New Jerusalem," we have the Holy Spirit living with us and in us (John 14:17) to remind us of everything our Savior taught us (John 14:26) and to move us to worship the Father in spirit and in truth, "for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks" (John 4:23).

Consider today whether Christ's sacrifice for you is bringing forth the fruit of worship in your life. This Christmas season take time to truly worship God, in all you do, and to prayerfully and worshipfully express to your heavenly Father thanksgiving for Emmanuel - for God is with us!

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

For further study: Isaiah 7:13-14, 9:1-7, Romans 8:1-4, Hebrews 9:15

ROD OF JESSE

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free Thine own from Satan's tyranny; from depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory over the grave.

When Jesus said, "I am the true vine" He spoke the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophesy that "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" (Isaiah 11:1). Jesus was announcing to His disciples that standing before them was the Root of Jesse. He was the One who was prophesied to stand as a banner to His people, to judge the poor with righteousness, and to decide with equity for the meek of the earth. Standing before them was the One who would strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with His breath slay the wicked (Isaiah 11:4).

This same Jesus was the One God spoke of in Genesis 3 as the One who would crush the head of the serpent. He is called the last Adam. He is the Lord from heaven who is a life-giving spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). He is the One who gave us victory over sin and death by becoming sin for us, laying down His life and taking it up again by His own power (John 10:17).

No matter what your circumstances, if you are in Christ, though you may continue to struggle, sin and death truly have no victory over you. Paul said "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). This Christmas season give thanks to God that through Christ you have been given victory over sin and death.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

For further study: Isaiah 11, Corinthians 15:35-58

CHRIST OUR DAYSPRING

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight.

John the Baptist's father, Zechariah, prophesied like Isaiah before him, about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They described Him like the light of the dawn, the Dayspring, giving light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace (Luke 1:78-79).

Jesus Christ is the Son of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2). He is the light of the world (John 8:12), who like the sun rising over the horizon, chases all the dark shadows of sin and evil away. And He is the light of the knowledge of the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:6) and the exact representation of His being (Hebrews 1:3).

Meditate on the Way, the Truth and the Light this Christmas season and let the brilliance of the Son of the Most High God cheer your heart and your mind with His life, which is the light of men (John 1:4).

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

For further study: 1 Peter 2:9-10, Isaiah 60:1-3

THE WISDOM OF GOD

O come Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh; to us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God. It is through Christ that all things were made and are held together (Hebrews 1:2-3). It is through Christ that we obtain a righteousness and a holiness that is not our own.

In the ages past this mystery of Christ was kept hidden from God's people. But now, God has been pleased to grant His people the full riches of complete understanding of this divine truth, which is Christ indwelling in every believer, Jew and Gentile alike (Colossians 1:27, 2:3).

By imparting His wisdom to us, Jesus goes before us and makes the rough places smooth. He shows us the path of knowledge, which leads to life, and He dwells in our hearts to move us ever-upward on the pathway of life. Proverbs 8:10-11 states, "Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

Our Savior has offered to us the full riches of complete understanding. He has given us all we need to live the rich life of righteousness in this earth while we await our complete redemption as children of God. And He has said that He gives these riches of wisdom generously to all who ask (James 1:5). Be good to yourself this Christmas and ask God to give you the gift of wisdom that is more precious than gold, silver or fine jewels.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

For further study: Isaiah 26:7, Ezekiel 36:26-27

DESIRE OF NATIONS

O Come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife, and quarrel cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

Jesus Christ is the Desire of nations. Isaiah said, "Nations will come to your light and Kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60:3). With His own blood, Jesus purchased people from every tribe and language and people and nation (Revelation 5:9). It was for these people that He endured the wrath of His Father. It was for the transgressions of these people that He was pierced and crushed by the One whose bosom He came from. And it was this punishment that was upon Him that brought us peace with God (Isaiah 53:4-5).

There is a day coming when the whole world and everything in it will know total peace, for Jesus is our Peace. In this day there will no longer be envy, strife or quarrel. There will no longer be corruption of heart and mind. In this day the wolf and the lamb will feed together (Isaiah 65:25).

We look forward to that day, when the Desire of nations will come and bind all people in one heart and mind. That unity and peace that the scriptures speak of will be found in Christ alone. But, until that day when we no longer struggle with conflict we have Emmanuel - God with us through the Holy Spirit. God promises us a measure of peace and harmony in this life with other believers through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Give thanks to the Lord for all He has done for you in the present, as well as the future glory that will be yours because of Him. This Christmas season pray for a greater measure of the peace of God to permeate your heart, mind, family and church.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

For further study: Isaiah 26:8-9, John 17:20-26, Colossians 2:1-3

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Copyright © 2001 Alan and Jean LeStourgeon