I love Christmas Carols. Well, who doesn’t, right?
Growing up Jewish, I didn’t get to sing the carols too often. But I did secretly love them. I hid them in my heart and would sing them quietly when I was alone. I also hid the excitement and beauty of the Christmas season in my heart. I earnestly desired to know this Jesus around whom this holiday revolved. Who was He really? And why was He kept from me?
In high school I was in our school’s chorus. We were really good – good enough to be invited to the Mall in D.C. to sing at Christmas. I cherished that time. I could finally sing O Holy Night with the others .
I doubt whether the other kids knew what was going on inside of me. I wonder if a lot of them took these songs for granted, having sung them all their lives. For me, it was magical. No – it was more; it was all the beauty of the whole universe wrapped up in music!
O Come O Come Emmanuel
When I first heard this song, I wept. It was after I had been born again, and I knew that most of my people did not understand about Yeshua. I also knew that He came for them, but they knew Him not.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).
The Lyrics
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
My Jewish people – exiled and held captive during the diaspora. The song bids the Lord to come and ransom captive Israel who mourns in lonely exile.
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Yes, Israel – Rejoice, because the Lord your Messiah will come one day and then you will really know Him! Rejoice!
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Thy people with Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death’s dark shadows put to flight
Yes, Lord Jesus. Come and cheer Your people who have been persecuted and killed throughout the ages. Because of their unbelief, they have suffered so.
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’ver the grave
From the Scriptures it was promised that You would come from the House of Jesse, and You did. Lord, Your people have been enslaved by Satan. Save them O God, and give them eternal life!
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
One day, Israel – you WILL rejoice! You will know your Savior and you will understand that you missed the time of your visitation. But He will come to you and you will be reunited with Messiah Yeshua. What Joy there will be!
“For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matthew 23:39).
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
And He WILL come to thee, O Israel! He WILL come.
MARANATHA