O Come, O Come, Emmanuel… Walking in the Fulfilled Promise

When I was about 10 years old, my parents bought a Christmas carol book with a sweet Victorian-era image on the front. I loved opening the soft covered book and finding carol after traditional carol.

As a ten year old, I spent time trying to memorize all the words to the more common songs like “Silent Night”, “Joy to the World,” and even “Jolly Old St. Nicholas.” But I discovered treasure in that book and still have very fond memories today of learning “God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman,” “Good King Wenceslas,” “I Saw Three Ships,” and “We Three Kings.”

One song that I loved but usually overlooked was “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” I loved the sweet, mournful tune, but for some reason the lyrics didn’t catch my attention. I learned the first line and went on.

As an adult, this carol is one of my favorites! The words to the song drip rich with meaning… and the older and busier I get at Christmastime the more I long for Jesus. I long for Him to come, ushering in His presence and peace.

Walking in the Fulfilled Promise

There is so much promise and hope in these lyrics. The promise of a Savior has been fulfilled and this song reminds me of just how hungry our souls are for more and more of Jesus. Oh, how desperately much we need Him! Not only for our soul’s salvation, but also for help, freedom, guidance, wisdom, and peace on this Christian journey we traverse.

Here are the full lyrics. I urge you to read these words, penned so long ago (in the 12th century), and dwell on how much they mean even today:

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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

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

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Oh, what great joy we have as Believers in Christ Jesus! We can rejoice (and rejoice again!) because our Savior, the rod of Jesse, has come! Like the lyrics to this carol state, He cheers our spirits and puts the shadow of death to flight with His marvelous light, and leads us to Him on a safe, though narrow, path. We can rest in those truths, dear friend.

Pray with me? Precious Lord Jesus, I thank you that you have come! You’ve come to set the captives free and ransom my soul from lonely exile apart from your presence. I ask that in the busy days between now and the celebration of your birth on Christmas day, you fill my heart with peace, hope, and great rejoicing. May your light be reflected in me and spill out onto a dark world who needs knowledge of your arrival! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,” (Luke 4:18, ESV)

If you love the song, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” here’s a version that you may enjoy: