Since it’s the season and all, I’ve been listening to Christmas music lately. We’ve all heard these songs probably hundreds of times, but have you ever stopped and actually thought about the words? And I’m not talking about Jingle Bells and other annoying songs that make you wish it was January. I’m thinking about the songs that are actually about Christmas.
Take O Come, O Come, Emmanuel for example. This has always been one of my favorites simply because I thought it sounded pretty. I never really understood what it was saying, because as a kid I remember thinking that Israel was one person, so that just makes the song even more confusing. My kid logic: this Israel guy must be pretty sad about something if we’re singing to him on Christmas when we should be singing about baby Jesus.
Well, as it turns out, Israel isn’t one person but an entire nation of God’s chosen people. Throughout their history God was dumping blessings and miracles on them, protecting them, leading them to safety, keeping every promise He made to them, and He was in their midst. And what did the Israelites do? The rebelled against God. They were unfaithful and started worshipping other idols. They forgot everything that God had done for them. They forsook the Lord. So what did God do about that? He looked past all of their mistakes and promised them redemption, salvation, healing, and a Prince of Peace that would help bring them into a Kingdom better than anything they could possibly imagine. All He wanted them to do was turn away from their sin and come back to Him.
So really, Israel is sad. They’re being held captive by their sin, and are trying to use anything they can (besides God) to take away their pain and feelings of exile. God sees past their unfaithfulness, and only wants them to come back and be in a healthy relationship with Him. So He promises them Emmanuel aka Jesus. When God is with them, they will be free.
Here’s the challenge: Go back and instead of thinking about a nation of people, think of Israel as one person. Then, don’t think of Israel as some person from some ancient land, think of Israel as you.
For I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.”
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