A HISTORY OF LONGING

During the advent season, we look back in the pages of the Bible to see Israel's longing for the promised messiah. Between the Old Testament and the New Testament, 400 years of silence and inactivity in the temple of God is broken by the unexpected visit of an angel of God who appears to Zechariah the priest. The angel tells Zechariah, "Do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard" (Luke 1:13). Zechariah's wife is to bear a child that will prepare the way for the long awaited messiah. When little John is born a few chapters later, Zechariah blesses the Lord because he knows God's promised salvation is near. Luke 1:68-79:

“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”


O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear
O come, thou Dayspring, 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.


In Isaiah 7:14, the prophet foretells the messiah's coming:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" which means: God with us!

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:14-16)

Come thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s Strength and Consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear Desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Born Thy people to deliver
Born a child and yet a King
Born to reign in us forever
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone
By Thine all sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne

Not only do we wait and long with Israel for the first coming of Jesus in this advent season, we also look forward and wait for Jesus' return. In that time, his reign and rule will be established fully and eternally. Hear these reassuring words from Titus 2:11 as you go from here today:

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”


Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
Words and Music by Henry Sloane Coffin, homas Helmore, and John Mason Neale
Music Arrangement by Mike Gorrell

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Words by Charles Wesley
Music arrangement by King's Kaleidoscope
2011 Citizens. Some rights reserved under
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