O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid all our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
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 video below.
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Everyone, enjoy this video, and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
We conclude our journey through Advent and Christmas with this ancient text that invokes several powerful images of Emmanuel and invites Him to come even as we rejoice. Let’s tune our hearts.
Desire of Nations
I first saw the above image of Jesus years ago. Unlike many prints that I could appreciate for their artistic beauty or their truth communication, I really wanted this one. I received it as a gift and proudly displayed it.
Though it is the artist’s rendition of Jesus’ version of Joseph’s coat of many colors. Having served a missions-minded church movement for years this really resonated with me. Obviously from a Biblical perspective Jesus is the Desire of Nations, and this coat and print portrays that truth visually in a powerful way. There are flags and patterns representing many tribes and tongues.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 ESV
A child has been born, not just to Israel, or those of faith in the One true God, but to the world, a child who will bring the deepest longings to every heart that seek Him: counsel, protection, care and peace. Jesus is that child born to the humble couple from Nazareth, for the world.
Though the nations do not make Jesus their expressed desire, the truth is that He actually is. The deep, lasting and eternal peace that can only be found in Him is the desire of every heart, and every nation. Declare your desire for the Desire of nations again today.
RESONATE!
If you have read this far, I feel it is safe to say Jesus either is already your desire, or He is drawing you to Himself so that He can become it. Give thanks to God if you know Him as the Desire of your heart this season, and if you don’t asl Him to become it now.
Bind in One our Hearts
You do not have to look very far to see our “sad divisions” which we will consider in the closing lines of this stanza on Thursday. This is prayer is offered before they are even mentioned or enumerated. To appreciate personally the great need for being bound as one I want to ask you to do something.
Think of a division in your life. Maybe it is with a loved one. Maybe a neighbor or co-worker. I do not want you to think of the cause of the division, but the cost. What is that division costing you, and everyone else involved?
Maybe there is no way to find unity and the peace that flows from it because of the stance of those on the other side of the division, but let that not be said of you. Is there anything you could do today to remove part of the division, the dividing wall of hostility? Not sure? Would you be willing to ask God to show you?
If you are going to ask God to bind all the hearts of mankind into one, you need to be willing to examine how you may be contributing to that division. Not easy, I know. Then and only then can you with integrity ask God to bind…
In one the hearts of all mankind;
…I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:23 ESV
Jesus prayed this incredible prayer for His children, and for those who would become His children. That we would be one so the world would know the Father sent Jesus because He loves us. Hallelujah! God loves us. Sometimes we keep the world from knowing it because of our lack of love. Lord have mercy on us, and make us one with you, removing any divisions between us and you, and us and others.
Though we share this great longing to be united, we pursue it in many and diverse ways. It is actually the one thing that all mankind desires, a deep longing for peace from being united. It is what could bind us together, but our different approaches often tear us apart. Help us Lord.
RESONATE!
Echo Jesus prayer for unity that reflects His love. Ask Jesus to bind all hearts together pursuing Him. Jesus, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Jesus, thank You for being the Desire of Nations, even though they fail to realize it. Help your people to live out your love so that we may display the unity the world longs to experience and start with me. Let there be eace on earth and let it begin with me. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Unified Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 24.5 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid all our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Though the nations do not make Jesus their expressed desire, the truth is that He actually is. The deep, lasting and eternal peace that can only be found in Him is the desire of every heart, and every nation. Declare your desire for the Desire of nations again today.
Jesus, You are my desire.
Though we share this great longing we pursue it in a multitude of ways. It is actually the one thing that all mankind desires, a deep longing for peace. It is what could bind us together, but our different approaches often tear us apart. Ask Jesus to bind all hearts together pursuing Him.
Jesus, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
One other translation says, “bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease”, but this one is simpler, “all our sad divisions”. Whatever their root cause, our differences often create envy, strife and quarrels instead of bringing us together. Ask Jesus to cause them all to cease, and let it start with you.
Jesus, starting with me, bid all our sad divisions cease.
Oh for the day the world finally knows Jesus and the peace that only He can truly bring, internally, externally, and eternally. Close out this year and begin the new one asking Jesus to not only be your Prince of Peace, but the King of Peace for the whole world.
Jesus, be our King of Peace.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Making the Many One appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
O Come, Desire of Nations – http://icandigit-kel.blogspot.com/2008/01/coat-of-many-colors-lord-of-all-by.html
Bind In One the Hearts of All Mankind – https://pixabay.com/vectors/heart-flags-countries-united-unity-3204671/
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