Listen here.
Welcome to Devotions for Worship where we meditate on the
appointed Scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday. I am Pastor Eric Tritten
from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hudson, OH.
Thank you for being with me today.
I’ve struggled a little with what to do for this fifth
devotion of the week. For a while I returned to the Gospel lesson. Then I took
some time to look at some devotional writings – particularly Luther’s letter, A Simple Way to Pray. I have yet to feel
really satisfied with anything I’ve done on this last devotion of the week. So
I’ll keep tinkering, but if you have suggestions, they would certainly be
welcome!
So for now, on Saturdays during Advent and Christmas we will
take a look at some of the hymns of the season. I will probably stick with one
of the hymns we will be singing at Gloria Dei, but I will also try to include a
link to somewhere you can listen to the hymn too.
We’ll begin with that old classic, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. You can listen to it here. O Come, O Come Emmanuel.
However, I am looking at it in the Lutheran Service Book from Concordia
Publishing House where it is hymn number 357.
This hymn is nearly 1000 years old. The verses are rooted in
ancient liturgical antiphons which were chanted during the last seven days of
advent. Ponder that for a moment. As you sing this hymn, you sing words that
our brothers and sisters in Christ have sung to proclaim our hope in Emmanuel
for 900 and some odd years! We cling to the same hope and the same Christ they
did.
Each verse begins with the words, “O come….” And they echo
the longing of the prophets of old who longed for the Messiah to arrive, and
the desire of the apostles for Jesus to return. “Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!”
Each verse describes Jesus with a different name or
prophetic image. The hymn begins with Emmanuel – reminding us that Jesus, the
son of God is God with us. He is the wisdom of God – the one who is both just
and justifier. He is our Lord of Might, who is humbly born in a stable and
meekly dies on the cross. The Branch of Jesse’s tree, reminds us that a shoot
would come from Jesse’s stump – that there would be life from the dead. He is
the Key of David – the king who reigns eternally who opens the way to heaven.
He is the Dayspring – the new day, the first day of a new creation. And he is
indeed, the desire of nations – the one who, whether they know it or not, all
people long for because he will set all things right.
And what does Emmanuel’s presence do to us? It fills us with
hope and joy so that we sing, “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O
Israel!” Emmanuel – God with us – comes to us – God’s people – and brings us
salvation.
Prayers –
Let’s use verses 1 & 7 for our prayer today.
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear.
O come, Desire of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind; bid Thou our sad divisions cease, and be Thyself our King of Peace. Amen.
Memory Verse: Isaiah 64:4 – From of old no one has heard or
perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who
wait for Him.
Thank you so much for using Devotions for Worship, I pray
that our time together has blessed you and given you something to meditate on –
some reminder of God’s grace to rattle around in your brain – for the rest of
the day.
Before I go I want to remind you that Advent is a good time
to practice that old devotional habit of giving of alms. Where can you show
God’s love to the poor, the hurting, or just someone who needs help? How can
you give of yourself joyfully, prayerfully, and gratefully? I can tell you
that, for my part, I intend to look at the Salvation Army’s red kettles a
little differently. I also happen to know that there is a family connected to
our congregation who has found themselves in a difficult place who we plan to
help. I pray that you will see someone’s need and that you will be moved to
help … even if in some small way.
Would you do me a favor? If you got something out of this
devotional time, would you like and/or share it on Facebook, Twitter, or
wherever you do social media? That would help me get the word out, and
hopefully help these devotions be a blessing to others.
God bless you!
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