Christmas Carol: “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

When I think of Christmas carols, I think of joy. Celebration. Cheer. But the Advent season (the four weeks leading to Christmas day) is often ushered in with a song that can be described as melancholy. Mournful. Gloomy.

The lyrics of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” speak of ransoming captives, lonely exile, and Satan’s tyranny. They also mention gloomy clouds, death’s dark shadows, and sad division. Not exactly the type of Christmas carol usually heard on the radio or in a playlist!

So what’s with all the gloom and doom?

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” recounts Israel’s long wait for her Messiah. It reviews her history, from the giving of the Law to Moses to the kingly line through Jesse’s descendants with special mention of Jesse’s son, David. And through all the waiting, the refrain assures God’s people that He will, indeed, send His Son to Israel.

The history lessons are important because without understanding the severity of sin—for both Israel and the whole world—we cannot appreciate the significance of the coming of Emmanuel.

Names of Jesus

The name in the title, Emmanuel, is the first of many names for Jesus we find in this Christmas carol.

• Emmanuel means God with us. Isaiah mentioned this name in a prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. Gospel writer Matthew referred to this prophecy in his account in Matthew 1:23.
• Reference to the Messiah as the Son of God appears in Psalm 2:7. There, God the Father says to His Son, “You are My Son, today I have begotten you” (Psalm 2:7).
• The title, Lord of might, is also found in Isaiah. There we read Isaiah’s prophetic description of the Messiah as “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6).
• The “Rod of Jesse” is not a commonly used title for Jesus today. It’s rooted in Isaiah 11:4, which tells us, “He wills strike the earth with the rod of his mouth. And the apostle John quoted Isaiah when he wrote, “He will rule them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 19:15).
• “Dayspring” comes from Luke 1:78, which has also been translated dawn or morning light. Luke was quoting from Isaiah 9:2, which tells us, “The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light.”
• The “Key of David” is found in Isaiah 22:22, “I will set the key of the house of David on His shoulder.”
• Isaiah 110:5-6 tells us the King of Nations will “shatter kings” and “judge among the nations.”
• Finally, the King of Peace comes from Isaiah 9:6, in which Isaiah called the Messiah the “Prince of Peace” and Isaiah 11:6-9 where Isaiah described a time when “the wolf will dwell with the lamb.”

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is more than just a Christmas song. Yes, it’s mournful. But it’s important to be reminded to mourn over our sin as we consider the great cost the Babe in the manger would pay for our sin.

Yet this is also a worshipful message of hope and expectation as we rejoice in the Savior who was born into humanity, fulfilled all these titles, paid for our sin, and reconciled us to our heavenly Father. Rejoice, Christians! Emmanuel has come to us!

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel

That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, great Lord of might, who to your tribes on Sinai’s height

In ancient times did give the law in cloud and majesty and awe.

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.

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

O come, O Key of David, come and open wide our heavenly home.

Make safe for us the heavenward road and bar the way to death’s abode.

O come, O King of nations, bind in one the hearts of all mankind.

Bid all our sad divisions cease and be yourself our King of Peace.