O COME, O COME IMMANUEL

Israel, God’s chosen people, had once been the world’s superpower, but the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians had ransacked, ruined, and robbed them of their glory. Now, in the first century AD, the Romans ruled.

A thousand years after David’s celebrated reign, the nation clung to the promise of restoration. They believed the promise given to their ancestral king: “I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom… My faithful love will never leave him… Your house and kingdom will endure before me forever, and your throne will be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

They trusted God’s promise … the promise of an immaculate conception and a miraculous birth. “The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Their king was coming… so they waited, yearning for Christmas... the coming of Immanuel, God with us.

O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom captive Israelthat mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

When we sing this Christmas carol, we sing their song.

But it has become our song. Today, the church “mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear” … “O come, O come, Immanuel, and ransom” … the church. Save us from the today’s temptations, tribulations, and troubles. “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Rejoice! Rejoice! Merry Christmas! Immanuel has come … and soon, Immanuel shall come!

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).