O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (8th or 9th century)
Latin: Germany (1710)
Listen to this modern version of this popular hymn/carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We begin our journey through Advent with this ancient text which invokes several powerful images of Emmanuel and invites Him to come even as we rejoice. Let’s think about this.
Separation
When was the last time you were away from someone you really cared about? Can you recall that terrible feeling? Have you ever experienced the uncertainty of not knowing if a separation would end, and that it was all your fault?
All these evoke the feeling of having a wedge driven in your relationship with God. We have all felt it at times, even after it ended in earnest when we surrendered our lives to Him and welcomed Him in. It is awful.
This opening stanza sets up the hope of that separation ending by carefully acknowledging the pain of it. It calls to mind the Scriptural allusion of Israel being separated from God by its sin. In so doing, it allows us to enter into that drama on a personal level by considering how we have contributed to our own exile, or at least the feeling of it.
That mourns in lonely exile here
He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12
When we do acknowledge that separation, it is painful because we realize it is our choices that have created it, just like Israel. There is a remedy for that malady. Do you know what it is?
The separation caused by sin is real and agonizing. We must accept that, confess it and plead with the Father to deliver us from its debilitating effects. Do it today!
RESONATE!
Confess the things that separate you and cry out to be drawn near again. Mourn any separation from Him, and allow that grief to motivate you to repentance as you turn back to God. Do so and ask Jesus to gather you close.
Joining
Separation need not be eternal.
When was the last time you were reunited with someone you really cared about after some period of separation? Can you recall that wonderful feeling? Have you ever experienced the elation of knowing a separation would end, and that the joining together was not your doing at all?
The name God gives Himself in this stanza is Emmanuel. God with us. We will not always be separated from Him as we are today. There is coming a day of great rejoicing when we are joined with God at the return of Jesus Christ. This is our blessed hope.
Until the Son of God appear.
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13 ESV
As Israel longed to rejoice at the first coming of Emmanuel, so do we for His second. He is our blessed hope and just as certainly as He came to them as the promised Messiah, so He will come again as the conquering King. Is He your hope?
Trust that just as Jesus came to His people as a helpless baby, He will come to you as a faithful savior. He will come, and He will appear or make Himself known to you. Are you longing for that day, ready to rejoice?
RESONATE!
Prepare yourself in this season to respond to His coming to you, and ready yourself to rejoice. Ask the Father to fill you with anticipation this season. Ask Jesus to help you prepare to rejoice at His coming.
Jesus, how I long to rejoice at Your return. Help me prepare by being honest with You about things that separate me. You are my blessed hope. In Jesus name. Amen.
Solemn and Joyful Thinking!
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Podcast 24.1 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23 ESV
Foretold in Isaiah and fulfilled in Matthew, Israel was waiting for the appearing of the anointed One, the Messiah, who would deliver them. We long for His second coming while we wait for deliverance as well. Ask Emmanuel to reveal what you are really longing for.
And ransom captive Israel
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Isaiah 35:10 ESV
Having been exiled from the city of God for their sins, the people of Israel felt the distance which separated them from Him. As God’s people in this age, we often fail to acknowledge the spiritual distance caused by our disobedience. Ask the Spirit to reveal any things which have captivated you.
That mourns in lonely exile here
He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth. Isaiah 11:12
When we do acknowledge that separation, it is painful because we realize it is our choices that have created it, just like Israel. There is a remedy for that malady. Confess the things that separate you and cry out to be drawn near again. Do so and ask Jesus to gather you close.
Until the Son of God appear.
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:13 ESV
As Israel longed to rejoice at the first coming of Emmanuel, so do we for His second. He is our blessed hope and just as certainly as He came to them as the promised Messiah, so He will come again as the conquering King. Ask the Father to fill you with anticipation this season.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the Refrain.
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Loneliness Will End appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
That Mourns in Lonely Exile Here – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/silhouette-woman-tree-landscape-67202/Until the Son of GOd Appear – https://www.pinterest.com/pin/515662226059884353/
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