Day 2 | O Come O Come Emmanuel

Scripture to Ponder: Isaiah 52-53

Taken captive by Assyria after generations of idolatry, the people of Israel were marched through their cities into a foreign land to become slaves of a wicked king. It was the antithesis of the Exodus. The God who rescued them from Pharaoh allowed and directed them to a new Egypt. Into that dark moment in their history, the prophet Isaiah spoke with the light of hope:

For thus says the Lord: “You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money.” 4 For thus says the Lord God: “My people went down at the first into Egypt to sojourn there, and the Assyrian oppressed them for nothing. 5 Now therefore what have I here,” declares the Lord, “seeing that my people are taken away for nothing? Their rulers wail,” declares the Lord, “and continually all the day my name is despised. 6 Therefore my people shall know my name. Therefore, in that day they shall know that it is I who speak; here I am.”

The remainder of chapters 52-53 go on to describe the Messiah, God incarnate, as the Suffering Servant. This servant, Emmanuel (God with us), would grow up sinless, yet suffer as the greatest of sinners. He would ransom captive Israel without money, but with his blood. The unknown, 12th century author of O Come O Come Emmanuel masterfully captures the correlation between Israel’s Assyrian captivity and our own spiritual condition. No more do we have the ability to buy our pardon from sin than penniless Israel had to purchase their freedom. But praise God for the Advent of the Suffering Servant, Jesus the Christ, to ransom our captive souls to the adoption of the Father.

O Come O Come Emmanuel | Author Unknown
12th Century

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
who mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God draws near:
Rejoice, rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

2 O come, true Wisdom from on high,
who orders all to mind and eye:
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in her ways to grow.
Rejoice, rejoice!...

3 O come, O come, great Lord of might
who long ago on Sinai's height
gave all your tribes the ancient law,
in cloud and majesty and awe:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

4 O come, true Branch of Jesse, free
your children from this tyranny;
from depths of hell your people save
to rise victorious from the grave:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

5 O come, strong Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home;
upon our journey give relief,
and close the path to pain and grief.
Rejoice, rejoice!...

6 O come, bright Daystar, come and cheer
our spirits by your advent here;
dispel the long night's lingering gloom
and pierce the shadows of the tomb:
Rejoice, rejoice!...

7 King of the Nations, come, embrace
and unify the human race;
command our sad division cease
and be for us the Prince of Peace.
Rejoice, rejoice!...