“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” –Isaiah 7:14         

The prophet Isaiah foreshadowed the virgin birth of Jesus long before the account in the gospels, and when you read it, you can’t help but feel elated to see how it all fell into place about 700 years after the time of Isaiah’s prophecy.

O come, O come, Emmanuel is a translation of the Catholic Latin text “Veni, veni, Emmanuel” by John Mason Neale in the mid-19th century. Its origins are unclear but the text is based on the biblical prophesy from Isaiah 7:14 that states that God will give Israel a sign that will be called Immanuel (Lit.: God with us). Matthew 1:23 states fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. (from Wikipedia)

This is probably one of the most solemn Christmas songs we hear every year during the holiday season.  I find it interesting that while this carol is sung all over the world as nothing more than a Christmas song; people are in fact singing a prophetic message that has been fulfilled.

There is power in spoken words, and more specifically, there is power in spoken words that are prophetic in nature. What people don’t realize is that every time they sing this song, they are in fact proclaiming that Jesus is the Son of God incarnate; the messiah. This is a song of proclamation as well as a song of hope! 

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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’er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, 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.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.  

What a great message of hope!  The people cried out for a savior, and as a response, God sent his son into the world. From now on, every time you hear or sing this Christmas carol, remember, that this is isn’t just a solemn, holiday song, but this is a proclamation of the greatest gift to mankind; a savior!

Rejoice, Rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, oh Israel!