Week 1: Hope

Christ Foretold From the Beginning

Each Sunday of Advent ushers in a new sub-theme, a new candle to light and a new hymn to sing throughout the week. 

The first purple candle of Advent represents hope, the promise of God first spoken to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after their sin, and repeated over and over through the prophets.  Each day this week we will read passages from the Old Testament that call us back to the beginning and God’s consistent theme of hope. We’ll also sing the beautiful hymn, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” Why this specific hymn? Read the history behind the hymn to learn more!

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, author unknown; translated by John M. Neale (1861)

Origins of this carol can be traced to the 8th century AD, when the “O Antiphons” were instituted. An “Antiphon” is a psalm, anthem or verse usually adapted from Scripture that is said or sung as part of a liturgical worship service. The “O Antiphons” or the “O’s” as they came to be known, are songs that emphasize seven attributes of the anticipated Messiah sung each day of the week leading up to Christmas.

The seven verses of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel each echo one of the “O Antiphons”:

1. Emmanuel (God With Us)

2. Branch of Jesse

3. Dayspring

4. Key of David

5. Adonai (Lord of Might)

6. Wisdom from Heaven

7. Desire of Nations

While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church now sings the song to commemorate the first coming and anticipate the second coming in the future. In this light, the Advent hymn O Come, O Come, Emmanuel perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Author unknown; translated by John M. Neale (1861)

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel,

and ransom captive Israel

that mourns in lonely exile here

until the Son of God appear.

Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.

2 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. Refrain

3 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. Refrain

4 O come, O Key of David, come

and open wide our heavenly home.

Make safe for us the heavenward road

and bar the way to death's abode. Refrain

5 O come, O come, great Lord of Might,

who to your tribes on Sinai's height

in ancient times did give the law

in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain

6 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. Refrain

7 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. Refrain

for KING + COUNTRY- O Come, O Come Emmanuel | Official Picture-Story Lyric Video | SCENE 03