Advent One- Hymn

Advent Music

It is here. Go into almost any commercial area and you hear it, Christmas music, songs about Santa and snow, gifts and goodies, reindeer and children’s happy faces. We are advised, in those songs, to “be good” because Santa is making a list of good children. Parents look at the calendar with dismay. There is just not enough time between now and Christmas to do everything that needs doing. Children, looking with anticipation of joy to come, are convinced that Christmas will never get here. This Christmas, this Advent, make the hymns you sang as a child be the Christmas music of your soul. Hum those tunes while you wait for a red light or on hold for the service representative to answer the phone. Start with the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” 

Remember that Emmanuel means God with us. When we sing the opening words of the hymn we are crying to God to be with us. As the New Testament children of God we know that God is always with us. We might leave God, but God does not desert us. But for the Old Testament Children of Israel that was not the case.

Emmanuel, God with us, that is what was lost when sin entered the world. Humanity went from daily walking and talking with God to hiding from God in fear and embarrassment much like the guilty child hides from a parent after mischief. Follow that comparison to childlike behavior and feelings further. Think of how the young child, separated from a parent, cries, comfortless, and seeks the loved one. At times those tears and cries continue until either the parent returns or the child falls asleep exhausted. 

Now think of the length of time between the first promise of the Messiah and the birth of Christ. Generations died waiting for the promise to be kept. 

Open your memories, open your hymn books, and let your soul sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” only this time sing it without the refrain. Don’t even pause between the verses.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

 and ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here

 Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, 

Who ord’rest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show, 

And teach us in her ways to go.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, 

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height

In ancient times didst give the Law

 in cloud and majesty and awe.

O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree,

 Free them from Satan’s tyranny

That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, 

And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.

O come, Thou 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.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on High, 

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, 

And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

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.

Without the refrain, it is a very long hymn of sorrow and begging. It is not just a child waiting for a present, it is a toddler crying for mom and dad and not knowing if they will ever return. 

But we do know that God so loved us that He sent His only son. We do know that God is with us now and always. We can sing “Rejoice! Rejoice! God is with us. He is with me, a child of God.” (Even the syllables fit.) Read, again the very last verse of this great hymn. 

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.

Make it your prayer for peace this Advent. 

Let your soul sing.
Some versions of this hymn:
Traditional
King and Country

Thanks to Journeys of Faith contributing writer-

 Natalie Hartwig for sharing these Advent thoughts!