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!
And He WILL come to thee, O Israel! He WILL come.
MARANATHA
I get it all Geri but most of all, G_D has made you beautiful! May this coming Holy days be filled with much blessings. Bless Yisrael, Shaalu Shalom Yerushalayim, yes till Her redeemer return we pray. Shalom dear sister, Maranatha!!
ps. You’ve written in a way that moved my . . . . . . .soul . . .Glory in the Highest!!!
God bless you!
Geri, that is my favorite song. It so tickles me that churches everywhere are singing for Israel to come to Her Messiah, whether they realize it or not.
How true!!!! Love it 🙂
I sang this last night as part of a men’s choir at my church last night. I am as gentile as can be, but the message of this hymn never fails to bring a tear to my eye, because I know the meaning of the message, and I know the main subject of the song – Emmanuel – God, the Creator, with us! Amen!
Thank you for this great post!
And thank YOU for this great comment!
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Reblogged this on MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES and commented:
In light of the threat of President Obama signing the U.N. attempt to snatch Israel’s land and the terrorists burning of Israel’s land, this message in song is more important to share with the Jewish people this Christmas. Time is short. We must go and tell the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, Jesus, please come and save Your people Israel!
Amen, sis!
Your High School chorus imposed Christmas carol’s on you?!?!?!?!?!
If that happened today the ACLU would airdrop lawyers into that school, and George Soros would have a rent a mob show up crying “How diabolical and offensive to impose such islamophobic, homophobic, transgenderphoblic, anti immigrate and anti-pro choice hate music.”
That’s really interesting that you would write this. Something that I almost put in the article is that there was a girl from my synagogue in chorus with me. She refused to sing the sacred Christmas music. She also confronted me one day and asked how I could sing those songs. I told her that it was easy for me because I loved them 🙂 She was not happy with me!
I have saved this commentary of yours on my android, and, when I get over-whelmed or a bit depressed, I read it again. I, too, love the Christmas hymns and the Chosen people of God. I am frequently sad and sorrowful for them and Israel and Jerusalem. But, I know our Redeemed Liveth, and one Day, perhaps very soon (!!)🌷HE Will Return/Advent Again! And, after that HE Will Return to Fight and Defend God’s Chosen.!! What a Day that Will Be!! Then, we’ll be one family, and there will no longer be hatred and the devil in the world!! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus/Yeshua!!