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Sermon: O Come O Come Emmanuel
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-12
Duration: 25:21
Size: 11.6 MB
Learning From the Songs of Christmas
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1-12
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.
This popular song dates back to the year 800 and represents an important and ancient series of services celebrated by the Church.
Christmas is nothing short of the most historic day in human history. God became flesh and dwelt among us.
Indeed, our Christmas carol begins where any discussion on the central figure of Christmas must begin, by declaring Christ to be nothing less than redeemer God.
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.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
Throughout Scripture wisdom is closely linked to God. Genuine wisdom finds its roots in God and His Word.
Jesus Christ is fully the “Wisdom of God” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.
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.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
The “Rod of Jesse” refers to Isaiah 11:1. Isaiah’s writings predict a time when things will look hopeless.
It may, in fact, look bleak and hopeless but you dare not give up hope for he who said it will be faithful.
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.
A more literal translation suggests that “God has visited us as a sun rise from heaven.”
Light changes everything! The world looks different and is easier to navigate when there is light.
Jesus Christ is indeed the “Light of the world” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.
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.
The “power of the keys” was a significant role in a monarchy. It is none-the-less true in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus Christ is qualified to rule God’s Kingdom and is worthy to be celebrated in song.
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.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
He has conquered the hostile enemy that has held a grip on the human soul for millenia.
He deserves to be called “Mighty God” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.
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.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
We speak of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.”
Isaiah longed for world peace too. And he knew when and where it would be fulfilled – in the Messiah – in the reign of God.
Jesus Christ is indeed the “Prince of Peace” and is worthy to be celebrated in song.
Jesus is:
- Completely God
- Your source of Wisdom
- Your trustworthy Hope
- The Light of salvation
- The ruler of God’s eternal kingdom
- The conqueror of evil
- Your source for peace.
