O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Now that you have spent weeks reading and pondering what it means that God is coming, read this old song with new eyes and ears. Pray that you would feel the longing it communicates:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appears.

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 Dayspring, from on high,
and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh.
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, Adonai, Lord of might,
who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height.
In ancient times didst give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.

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