TUESDAY | “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”

Today we reflect on the second verse of this week’s Christmas hymn—“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” (It is worth noting that not every hymnal includes the same stanzas. Additions to hymn texts are often made over the years—sometimes written for specific purposes, to teach certain doctrines, or in response to texts that are too theologically dense or confusing for people.) The Scripture passage for today can bring some clarity to this version of the second stanza.

VERSE TWO:
“O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them vict’ry o’er the grave.”

This text reaches deep into the longing of God’s people for deliverance—their desperate hope for a Savior to spring up from the family tree, from the line of Jesse. Jesus is the unexpected shoot of life that grows and brings new life.

Verse 2 names three specific kinds of bondage: tyranny, despair, and death.

Tyranny — “Free Thine own from Satan’s tyranny” is a cry for liberation from all forces that enslave God’s people. It acknowledges that the dark power of evil is real, but also reminds us that we belong to the One who is stronger and can overtake the darkness!

Despair — “From depths of hell Thy people save” refers both to eternity and to the “hellish” places we encounter now—deep fear, shame, depression, sin patterns, and seasons of hopelessness. This hymn teaches us to bring everything to God in prayer, trusting that Emmanuel reaches further and deeper than our despair.

Death — “Give them vict’ry o’er the grave” reminds us that Jesus both comforts us and conquers everything that threatens to overtake us, including death, because He has been given the “power to bring everything under His control” (Phil. 3:21). He is the Resurrection and the Life, and His coming turns death into the doorway to eternal life.

Choose two of these options and spend a few minutes reflecting before writing a prayer asking EMMANUEL to come to your rescue.

• Have you ever experienced the need to be freed from “Satan’s tyranny”? Can you think of things in your life right now that need the liberating power of Jesus? Write a prayer about your need for rescue and deliverance.
• Where might you be experiencing “despair”? Is it fear, shame, sin patterns, or something else? Jot down a simple prayer—even a short “breath prayer”—that you can keep with you all day.
  • Try something like this: as you find your thoughts moving toward IT, pray, “O come, Emmanuel, deliver me from this ____.”
• Consider making a short list of things you could rejoice about today, and share it with a friend.
• Offer a prayer of thanksgiving for what GOD has done for you through Jesus.