Come, long awaited Messiah.
Guess what type of songs are the only things I hear these days.
You guessed it - Christmas songs. So, there I was, driving. I started to actually listen to the words. Instead of blindly defending a song like "It's Cold Outside," I thought that I should hear what I'm humming to. It was "O Come, O Come Emmanuel."
Wow
It is all about the Messiah coming for Israel. The listener of the song hears a beautiful message of hope and salvation. One of the things that strikes me though, is the fact that it is all about Israel. I have been telling people that we are Israel. It's not that we replace Israel. We ARE joined to, and have become, Israel.
Salvation
Now, friends and foes will argue with me. Some Jews will say, "Nope." Some Christians will say, "Are you kidding me?" But I heard that song this morning and it was so comforting. We do live in captivity. We do live in exile. Our people are scattered everywhere. Yeshua will come. Emmanuel will come and set the captives free. Halleluyah?
Identity
For me, it was so eye-opening to discover the identity of the Messiah. It opened my eyes to my own real identity. I think it is amazing that this song was written, and that it continues to be performed and recorded. I believe it is proof that His remnant continues to survive and thrive, and that His essence exists in many popular forms of art.
Bring on that song.
Perhaps I have to sit through some sketchy winter songs, or some cutesy jingly songs to get to it, but I want to hear it. I want to sing it again and again. here are the lyrics and below is a video of it. Read the lyrics before you listen. Then, i believe, the message will pop out in a new way.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
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Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
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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.
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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.
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O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
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O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
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O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
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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.
Refrain
