O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

/ Gail Johnson / 1 Comment

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Without a kinsman redeemer. Lost. Without hope. No way out. Until the cry of a newborn proclaimed Deliverance. Salvation has come! The cries for redemption became shouts of exaltation.

The angels proclaimed the wondrous news. The shepherds came to see. Kings laid gifts at His feet. Simeon gave thanks. And Anna declared Him to all who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. The Consolation of Israel… the world.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel is a prayer for redemption. Yet the chorus is a declaration of God’s faithfulness. He will not leave us in our troubles, but in His time, He shall bring us out. Tis the reason to rejoice!

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:4-7

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14

History:
Translator John Mason Neale (1851)
Tune VENI EMMANUEL (Chant)

Favorite line:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!

Silent Night

/ Gail Johnson / 1 Comment

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Wall to wall people. The city crowded with both man and beast. No room available for weary travelers until…

A stable, a stall, and a manger. Nestled away from the crowd and endless noise, Heaven and Earth met. Perfect love was born. Immanuel—God with us.

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

History:

The lyrics were written by Joseph Mohr and the melody by Franz Xaver Gruber. The song made its debut on Christmas Eve 1818.

Strange Way to Save the World

/ Gail Johnson / 7 Comments

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

My son, Levi, often fails to hear what I’m saying because he’s too busy trying to figure out where I’m going with the conversation. Through the years, it’s become my habit to begin our conversations with “Just listen. Don’t try to figure out where I’m going. Just listen to what I’m saying.”

As a planner, Levi tries to stay a step ahead. Nothing wrong with that. We need to make some plans. But many times, I find myself doing the same thing when it comes to my faith walk. I ponder where the Lord is taking me, what He is doing with me, and how it will turn out in the end. When all He wants me to do is listen. Not try to figure it out. But listen, and then, obey.

I think of my inclinations when reading  Joseph’s response to his pregnant betrothed in the first chapter of Matthew. I don’t get to hear all his thoughts, but I can speculate what he must have been thinking while lying there. Did he replay the facts over and over like a soundtrack on repeat? Did he question God’s plans the way we so often do amid our storms? Did he think of the prophet’s words foretelling a virgin birth? Or, did he ponder his neighbor’s reaction? Imagine his own reaction when the angel appeared!

 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.

But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”

Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. Matthew 1:18-25

Certainly, God’s ways are higher than our own. For who would have thought to send a babe to save the world? I wouldn’t have. But, I’m so glad He did! Hallelujah!

History:

Songwriters: Donald A. Koch, David Allen Clark, and Mark R. Harris

Favorite line:

Why love had to reach so far