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An Ancient Light for a Present Darkness

Posted Sunday, December 1st, 2013 4 Comments

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And they were a people longing,

Yearning to escape captivity.

For as long as they could remember, there had been chains – chains and shackles and heavy yokes

Weighing them down,

Until even their young children were crushed beneath their father’s bonds.

At first, they had cried out

With angry protests, shaking fists, and proud plans of revolution

But now, they were worn, beaten down and crushed,

Their throats raw, their voices weak, and their spirits dry as the dust in their fields.

There had been messiahs

Proven false, demonstrated impotent, escorted to the town line,

Banished from sight

Along with every hope of rescue, salvation, or redemption.

They lived in darkness

And no light appeared on their horizon.

It was to these ragged hearts,

Skinned and hung to dry on Satan’s line

That God sent a whispering communique

To prepare

For the arrival of comfort from a distant land.

And those who received the message

Ran their rent hearts up the standard

Like a battle-torn flag,

Like a lightning rod designed to attract starlight

From a particular star,

So the Lord will know He is welcome to reside

Even in this dark place.

O Come, Emmanuel, to Israel, to America, to where I am today,

come with light and darkness will be no more.

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.

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
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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

O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law, In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel.

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The Conversation

Lady in the Loge says:

December 2, 2013 at 1:42 am

Really enjoyed the crisp, clean writing joined by the great visuals AND I posted O Come, O Come, Emmanuel today too. 😀

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Anonymous says:

December 2, 2013 at 3:10 pm

What a wonderful way to start the day. I opened this this morning with an anxious heart, my mind going over a decision I must make, praying He would give me direction. Then I read your blog and listened to the music and my heart was calmed and I knew He was going to give me direction–direction I am to take even if it’s not the smoothest path. Again, you have blessed me, my child. MOMMA

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The BearPair says:

December 3, 2013 at 7:48 am

Lori, I really do like this one… plan to repost on FB & Tumblr… You’re off to a great Christmas series!!!

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Sherry says:

December 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm

What a blessing! And that’s my favorite Christmas hymn.

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