Rejoice, Rejoice: Emmanuel Shall Come

The ancient hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel carries the longing of Israel and the longing of every human heart. It is a song of exile, of waiting, of yearning for God to break into the loneliness of our world. “Ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear.”

Advent is this space of waiting. We live in the tension between exile and promise, between mourning and rejoicing. The hymn reminds us that Emmanuel—God with us—comes not only to comfort but to deliver, to heal, to bind together what is divided.

The Rod of Jesse’s stem speaks of God’s power to save, even through the grave. The Desire of nations points to the unity we long for, the peace that only Christ can bring. In a fractured world, these words are not just poetry; they are prophecy. They remind us that God’s answer to our divisions is not more power or control, but the gentle reign of the King of Peace.

And so we sing, even in exile: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.
This is the heartbeat of Advent—hope in the midst of waiting, joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in the midst of division. Emmanuel is coming. God is with us.