Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in
this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came
together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband
Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce
her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take
Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She
will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people
from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by
the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall
call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:18-23 ESV).
The text of this carol was originally written in Latin. It is a metrical paraphrase of the O Antiphons, a series of plainchant antiphons attached to the Magnificat at Vespers over the final days before Christmas. The hymn has its origins over 1,200 years ago in monastic life in the 8th or 9th century. Seven days before Christmas Eve monasteries would sing the “O antiphons” in anticipation of Christmas Eve when the eighth antiphon, “O Virgo virginum” (“O Virgin of virgins”) would be sung before and after Mary's canticle, the Magnificat (cf. Luke 1:46b–55). The Latin metrical form of the hymn was composed as early as the 12th century. However, the 1851 translation by John Mason Neale from Hymns Ancient and Modern is the most prominent by far in the English-speaking world. It has become a very common choral hymn in many churches today.
We should remember that time after time the Israelites found themselves separated from God because of their disobedience and obstinance. Of course God would eventually deliver them, only to be betrayed by His chosen people again. So, we find two constant themes in the Old Testament: The Israelites, no matter how hard they tried, were unfaithful God; and, God remained faithful and fulfilled the promises He made to them through His prophets. One of these promises is found in Isaiah 7:14, which says, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and you shall call his name Emmanuel.” The name Emmanuel translates as “God with us.” It’s a remarkable promise. Think of it … the Ultimate Being and Creator of the Universe promising to make Himself physically present with the people who have proven themselves unworthy. In this most somber Christmas song, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel”, there is an embraced tension within Israel. They are in exile, separated from God yet again. With a sober perspective, they choose to rejoice in the promise God has made to them. With nothing else to cling to, during desperation and loneliness, they recall and proclaim the promise that God would be with them, knowing that, despite their unfaithfulness, God is faithful to His promises. No one could have expected a baby in a manger to be the start of God’s perfect plan to be “with us.” And yet, that is exactly how God fulfilled His promise.
Are you waiting for God to come through
on a promise He has made? Do you feel a sense of loneliness or exile? Rejoice! Rejoice!
Through Christ, God has made Himself present to us. His faithfulness is greater
than our failure. And His presence is all the reason we need to, once more,
rejoice!
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