A JOURNEY THROUGH THE GOSPEL OF LUKE: O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

Luke 1:5a

    In the days of Herod, (ESV)

Luke 1:5a

   For over seven hundred years, Israel had suffered being led into captivity and under occupation by one nation after another.  There were short periods of self-rule in between, but they were short periods of time.  By the time of the birth of what we now know as the beginning of the first century, many in Israel were looking to God to manifest the promised Messiah that he had long ago promised Israel. To add insult to injury, the then occupying Romans had placed over them a puppet ruler, Herod, who was not even a Jew.   Little did they realize that God was about to send His Promised One to Israel. (and to the rest of the world)

   "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," is an old hymn that is usually heard during the Advent season, and has become a favorite of mine.  I believe that it conveys the sentiments of the faithful first century Jew who was longing for arrival of God's promised Messiah.

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 Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
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, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

SALEH

   When God did send the Messiah (savior) to Israel, most of Israel did not recognise Him (Jesus) as Messiah because they did not realize that they needed salvation from a power that was far greater than any earthly occupying force.

   In this Advent season, those who do not know Christ as their savior need to be reminded that they need salvation from a force that a far greater than a bad economy or a corrupt government.  They need to be reminded that they as individuals have broken God's Holy Law (use the Ten Commandments), and that they are at this very moment under the wrath of God that is to come.  They need a savior.