Nativity (Photo credit: sbrent)

Over the nexts several weeks I will be using Christmas Carols and Songs to guide us to the day we celebrate His birth. Many years have passed since I learned this first song.  It’s haunting melody and ‘prayer words’ just have a way of sticking with me.

O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransome captive Israel, that morns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Dayspring, 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, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;  To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;  Bid envy strife, and quarrels cease;  Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

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

As I read these words once again, and let the melody take me into my thoughts I wondered are we not still captive Israel?  Black Friday just broke sales records – a kind of captivity to buy stuff.   (I’ll chase a bunny here – – Isn’t it interesting that we live in a country that sets aside a day to spend more money than we really have buying things we think are right for a few people we may not even like.  Hm-m-m-m-m-m…)  Overweight/obesity/type 2 diabetes –captivity to food.   Pornography, adultery, homosexuality – – captivity to immorality.  Credit card debt, high mortgage payments, expensive cars, clothes, jewelry, furniture…..the list goes on and on and on.  We are captive to anything or anyone that are replacements for God. 

The Bible clearly tells us Emanuel means God (is) with us. Matthew 1:23  He knows what we are doing within our captivity to other stuff, we are trying to replace Him with something else.  He alone is ALL we need, have needed, and will need. 

Dear friends let our prayers be this from the 3rd verse of the song:

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, and order all things, far and nigh;  To us the path of knowledge show, and cause us in her ways to go.  Father, in heaven, open our ears and minds to Your guidance throughout this season.  Make it so Lord!