O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 257)
1 O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
2 O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain
3 O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
4 O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
5 O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode. Refrain
6 O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain
7 O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain
Text: Psalteriolum Cantiolum Catholicarum, Köln; Music: French processional; Public Domain
Devotion
While hope is a staple Advent theme, this hymn is a staple Advent hymn. Written in Latin around the 9th century, put to tune in the 12th century, and translated into English by John Mason Neale in the 1800s, it was first sung as a chant in monasteries. Its haunting melody is paired with verses addressing various Old and New Testament titles of Jesus. Its extremely emotive call of “O come, O come” reflects the hope, the longing, the yearning, and the waiting that God’s people have experienced throughout the centuries. We share in this call, too, as we anticipate and wait for Jesus to come again. We sing this hymn as a prayer to God in hope. “O come, O come, Emmanuel,” Jesus, God with us always!
Prayer
Come, O come, Emmanuel! O God, hear our prayer. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.