A new week, a new set of devotions. Week 2, day 1

This week our devotions will be centered around the hymn, "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

Week #2  Day #1 “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

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. (LSB #357 vs. 1)

Lost without hope of recovery. The armies of the enemy draw near and King Ahaz is sore oppressed with the prospect that he is about to lose his kingdom. We are told, “The heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.” (Isaiah 7:2b)  Fear, great fear griped the king and the people.

What great fear grips you at this time? Fear of the future? Fear of the past? Fear of loss? Fear of loneliness? What fear is it that makes you shake like the trees before the wind? What fear has taken hold of your life and stolen away the joy of life? What causes you to doubt that the Lord is able to help you?

The Lord was with Ahaz. He promised Ahaz He would be there for him, that the armies of the enemy would not destroy him or his kingdom. But he still feared. He was still uncertain about what was going to happen.

Sound familiar? Sound like you are captive to some feeling, action, emotion, or situation? Are you like captive Israel? Maybe this song is for you. May you should listen to the words once more.            O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Who is the song appealing to? It is appealing to God with use, Emmanuel. God told Ahaz that he could ask for any sign he wanted, and God would give it. When Ahaz was suddenly too timid and afraid to ask of God a sign, the Lord said, Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

Listen to that wonderful promise. God was going to give the virgin a son. Does that remind you of anything? I hope it does. The angel Gabriel came to Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, but had not had any relations with him yet. Gabriel told her she would be with child from God. And she believed it! She really did. She accepted the word of God even while Ahaz had rejected that very word.

Do you hear the word of God? Emmanuel, God with us! God sends His Son to us, to ransom us from sin, from death, from the power of the devil. He saves us, buys us back with His death and resurrection. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to the, O member of St. Paul’s.

PRAYER: Lord God, as I struggle in my life with those things that would take me captive, help me to trust in You. Help me to know that You are with me, Emmanuel. Give me hope and strength as I go through this day. Amen.