Joy to those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
of thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing
news, glad tidings of a birth:
“Go to him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth.”
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Listen to this modern version of this Christmas carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s tune our hearts.
Dayspring
How we long for the coming of the light in the midst of a long darkness! Can you think of a time when it seemed things could not get any darker? That is how things tend to feel just before the dawn breaks, just before the day springs.
When we see that first glimmer of light our hope is rekindled. But even then it is fragile. Did we just imagine it? Are our eyes deceiving us? Oh the joy to those who see the light as it breaks after a weary night.
Jesus is that light! The Dayspring from on high. He has appeared bringing joy.
Joy to those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear;
Because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high Luke 1:78 ESV
We pick up here with the joy that must have filled Zechariah when he could finally speak again as he prophesied over John, his son who would herald the coming of Jesus, the Dayspring from on high. Hope springing forth from darkness. Where do you need that today?
Jesus comes and brings light into the darkness for all who are longing to see Him. As the day springs forth pushing back the night with the light of the rising sun, so Jesus does in our lives. Are you longing for Him to come and shatter that darkness for you? Invite Him to come.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about any darkness surrounding you. How are you hoping to overcome it? Maybe it would be best to simply wait for the light to come. Make this your simple prayer today “Dayspring, come bringing light to my darkness.”
Rod of Jesse
If the night seemed hopeless before the dayspring, what about the stump? Does it seem likely there will be a fresh shoot? Hardly. But that is exactly what Jesus is.
The hope of a deliverer seemed to have all but slipped away from all but the most devout of the Jews. Yet there was this promise that a branch would still bear fruit. Isaiah said it. It must be true!
They were longing to hear the news of that Rod coming. They were not prepared for Him to come as a baby. Still it was that birth that we long to hear.
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
of thy birth we long to hear!
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 ESV
In Jesus this prophecy was fulfilled, the shoot or rod from the stump of Jesse which would bear fruit. We long for Him to come and bear fruit in us. Are you longing for His coming to you? What kind of fruit do you think Jesus has in mind for you in this season?
Isaiah prophesied of Jesus coming in this way, the One that would sprout from the stump of Jesse. God’s people waited a long time for that promise to be fulfilled, and we are waiting now for His return even as we hear of His birth again. Are you longing or have you grown weary?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider for what you are waiting. Have you stopped waiting for something and taken matters into your own hands? Maybe you need to wait and long again. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Rod of Jesse, help me long to hear of Your birth.”
God, thank You for the freedom that awaits us in Jesus. Help us to expect it more every day, anticipating the return of Jesus which will usher it in. Help us find rest even as we wait expectantly. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Hopeful 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 35.2 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.
Joy to those who long to see thee,
Dayspring from on high, appear;
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse,
of thy birth we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing
news, glad tidings of a birth:
“Go to him, your praises bringing;
Christ the Lord has come to earth.”
Jesus comes and brings light into the darkness for all who are longing to see Him. As the day springs forth pushing back the night with the light of the rising sun, so Jesus does in our lives. Are you longing for Him to come and shatter that darkness for you? Invite Him to come.
Dayspring, come bringing light to my darkness.
Isaiah prophesied of Jesus coming in this way, the One that would sprout from the stump of Jesse. God’s people waited a long time for that promise to be fulfilled, and we are waiting now for His return even as we hear of His birth again. Are you longing or have you grown weary?
Rod of Jesse, help me long to hear of Your birth.
Can you hear the echo of the angel song from that glorious night long ago? Over hills and across time it rings in the hearts of those who are listening intently for it. Those were the gladdest tidings ever. Ask God to give you ears to hear that song again in this season.
God, help me hear the angel song.
Their song is a call to worship, a call to go to Jesus with praises on your lips for the One who has come to be Lord. But first it is a call simply to go to Him. How will you respond to this call? How will you bring your praise this Advent/Christmas season?
Lord, help me respond to the call to worship.
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.
Sing
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 What Are You Longing For? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Joy to those who long to see thee, Dayspring from on high, appear; – https://pixabay.com/photos/sunrise-rising-sun-sun-heaven-4359203/
Come, thou promised Rod of Jesse, of thy birth we long to hear! – https://www.kfuo.org/2020/12/07/sharper-iron-advent-with-the-prophets-120720-the-shoot-from-the-stump-of-jesse/
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