O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

DAILY READING

Matthew 1:1-17

John 1:9-13

FIELD NOTES

Sometimes a song is as familiar as an old friend, but with that familiarity we can sometimes lose the deep significance of the words we are singing. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is a hymn with roots back to the 15^th century that is commonly associated with Christmas, but it doesn’t carry the same joyous tone that most Christmas songs do. 

In this song the people of Israel are crying out to God to save them. They are suffering and are pleading with God to deliver them. However, while they are scared, they still have hope that God will save them. As we see in Matthew 1, even in their time in the wilderness, their hope has always been with them. He is one of them. 

The story of Jesus’ genealogy in the beginning of Matthew is designed to document Christ’s credentials as Israel’s king and shows Christ is the heir of the royal line. Matthew wants to establish Jesus as a legitimate descendant of David and rightful candidate for the messianic throne. It is also important to point out, that contrary to Jewish tradition, Matthew included four women of controversial reputation. You can even say that including these particular women fits with the circumstances that surrounded Jesus’ mother Mary. 

God chose to deliver His people with a baby, with an imperfect lineage, who would save the world. But first, we must wait.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel 

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
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 heav’nly 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.

QUESTIONS FOR THE FIELD

• Read O Come, O Come, Emmanuel out loud. As you read it, reflect on what your lament to God is? Where is the hope in this season?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Do you ever feel like you are alone in the world? When you feel alone or scared, know that you can always call out to God and He will hear you. 

PRAYER GUIDE

Lord, please hear our cries. Help us to be patient in this season of waiting, trusting that you will be, and have always been, with us. Amen.