Source (book): "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Chapter 4, "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus", Page 47.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012
The "fears and sins" (Stanza 1) we need to ask Jesus to release us from are our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, relationships, hobbies, finances, habits, and so on, that we have yet to fully hand over to the rule of Christ.
Not all fear is sin. The Hebrew word here can be used for reverence, respect, or dread. Those fears which we need Jesus to release us are those that are the direct result of sin.
Genesis 3:8-10 tells us the story of such fear. After Adam and Eve listened to the temptation of Satan via the serpent (Genesis 3:1-5), they violated the command of God and ate of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6-7).
"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'" (Genesis 3:8-10).
What Adam and Eve had done, they were right to be afraid. This fear is a direct result of sin. It brought separation from God, a flawed world, punishment, and death. Those are the fears which we need Jesus to release us from.
How would this be connected with the reality of Jesus reigning in your heart?
The kingdom of God which has to do with the rule of Christ in our hearts, is through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us those areas that remain in "rebel territory"; that need to be conquered by Christ's love. It is in this way that God is preparing us for life in eternity, fully reclaimed for Him.
Express your thoughts in prayer.
What the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi is something that we can pray for one another today: "We pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).
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Come, Thou long expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free,
From our fears and sins release us.
Let us find our rest in Thee:
Israel's strength and consolation.
Hope of all the earth Thou art,
Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us for ever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom being:
By Thy own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone,
By Thy all-sufficient merit
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.
(Source: The United Methodist Hymnal [Nashville: The United Methodist Publishing House, 1989], #196)
PHOTO: History of the Carol
This hymn was written as an Advent and Christmas carol by Charles Wesley. It was first published in Wesley's Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord in 1744.
Picture posted by The Falls Church Anglican
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https://www.tfcanglican.org/consider-this/charles-wesley
History of the Carol [1]
This hymn was written as an Advent and Christmas carol by Charles Wesley. It was first published in Wesley's Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord in 1744.
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) was the younger brother of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism in the eighteenth century. Both John and Charles were sons of an Anglican clergyman and a devout mother, who wielded much influence over them. Charles, who was an ordained Anglican minister, had a conversion experience in 1738 (his brother John had a similar experience three days later). After this, Charles became the songsmith of the Methodist movement. He became a prolific poet whose heart and pen sprang more than 9,000 poems, of which 7,250 were published as hymns.
It was said that, at times, he would write several poems a day. Sometimes, the poetry would start flowing while he was travelling on horseback. He would quickly stop at the nearest acquaintance's house and ask for pen and paper, writing down what flowed so freely from his heart. A constant and huge river of words and tunes flowed endlessly from Wesley's soul and heart, demonstrating what Jesus said in John 7:38 - "Whoever believes in me . . . rivers of living water will flow from within them". Oh, what a great river of poetic language and melodious tunes the Spirit inspires!
As mentioned in the Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church with Tunes (1878), even on his deathbed in March 1788 the river kept flowing as Charles dictated his last words to his beloved wife, Sarah Gwynne:
In age and feebleness extreme,
Who shall a helpless worm redeem?
Jesus, my only hope Thou art,
Strength of my failing flesh and heart,
O, could I catch a smile from Thee
And drop into eternity!
PHOTO: Sarah Gwynne, wife of Charles Wesley
Photo credit: Donald Ryan
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The musical talent of Charles passed on to his two sons, Samuel and Charles Junior, both of whom were child prodigies and became celebrated organist to the royal family of England, while his brother Samuel became known as "the English Mozart". Samuel's son Samuel Sebastian Wesley, became one of the best British composers of the nineteenth century.
Charles Wesley wrote this hymn after meditating on Haggai 2:7; "'I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty". He had also come across a published prayer with the following words: "Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen." This was adapted as the second stanza of the song. Wesley wrote the hymn to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ and to help Christians look forward to His second coming. This was the first of several Wesley hymns that were collected under the genre of "Festival Hymns". Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892), as a young preacher in London, made it popular by incorporating several of its phrases in his Christmas sermon in 1855. Spurgeon's point was that there are very few who are born king, but none who is born king without being a prince - except Jesus Christ.
The hymn has been set to various tunes. The earlier tune was "Stuttgart", written in 1716 by German composer Christian Friedrich Witt (1660-1717). Subsequently, "Hyfrydol", a Welsh tune written in the 1800s by Rowland Hugh Prichard (1811-1887), was used for the hymn: the United Methodist Hymnal (Hymn #196) uses this tune.
PHOTO: German composer, Christian Friedrich Witt (1660-1717)
Picture posted by Open Music Library
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Biblical Insight from the Carol [1]
This hymn not only celebrates the first coming of Jesus but also anticipates His second coming, when He shall return to make all things new and wipe away every tear.
Stanza 1 begins by describing Christ as the "long expected Jesus". He is the Messiah foretold by the biblical prophets (Isaiah 9:6-7; 42:1-6; 61:1-2; Daniel 7:13-14; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 9:9), whose advent was eagerly awaited by generations of Jews. The Hebrew-based word "Messiah" is similar to the Greek-based word "Christ" (the anointed one). Jesus revealed himself as the long-awaited Messiah (John 4:25-26). He accepted Peter's confession that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah) (Matthew 16:16).
PHOTO: This hymn not only celebrates the first coming of Jesus but also anticipates His second coming, when He shall return to make all things new and wipe away every tear. Stanza 1 begins by describing Christ as the "long expected Jesus". He is the Messiah foretold by the biblical prophets. The Hebrew-based word "Messiah" is similar to the Greek-based word "Christ" (the anointed one).
Digital art created by John Lenz - Cosmic Christ
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Jesus was born to set His people free (John 8:36). Better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6), who was used by God to bring His people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, Jesus brought a deeper and eternal freedom to all nations. Jesus brings us freedom from our sins and fears. We are plagued by a sinful nature, whose penalty Jesus had paid for at the cross, and whose tyranny He breaks with His power (Romans 7:24-25). He removes our guilt from the past, deals with our anxiety in the present, and gives us hope for the future. In this way, He removes all our fears. We remember that in His earthly ministry, Jesus would from time to time encourage His troubled and frightened disciples by saying, "Don't be afraid" (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 14:27) or "Do not let your hearts be troubled" (John 14:1).
PHOTO: Jesus was born to set His people free (John 8:36). Better than Moses (Hebrews 3:1-6), who was used by God to bring His people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land, Jesus brought a deeper and eternal freedom to all nations. Jesus brings us freedom from our sins and fears. He removes our guilt from the past, deals with our anxiety in the present, and gives us hope for the future. In this way, He removes all our fears.
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"Let us find our rest in Thee" (Stanza 1) reminds us of what St. Augustine (AD 350-430) wrote in his Confessions (1:1): "You have formed us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in You". Jesus offers rest for the weary and troubled soul (Matthew 11:28). There is no rest for us outside Jesus; in Him is the eternal life in Christ, when there will be a fullness of blessedness, peace and well-being, and the end of suffering and sin, as promised by God (Hebrews 4:9-11). That is why we celebrate Christmas, for the one who gives us rest has come. And that is also why we wait for His return, for He will bring perfect rest for us.
PHOTO: Jesus offers rest for the weary and troubled soul (Matthew 11:28). There is no rest for us outside Jesus; in Him is the eternal life in Christ, when there will be a fullness of blessedness, peace and well-being, and the end of suffering and sin, as promised by God (Hebrews 4:9-11).
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Jesus brings hope not only for Israel (He is "Israel's strength and consolation") but also for "all the earth" (Stanza 1). He is not only the much-awaited Messiah for Israel, but the "Desire of every nation" (Stanza 1). As the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) said:
PHOTO: Jesus brings hope not only for Israel (He is "Israel's strength and consolation") but also for "all the earth". He is not only the much-awaited Messiah for Israel, but the "Desire of every nation".
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What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?
This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and immutable object; in other words by God himself. [2]
PHOTO: What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?
Picture posted by honourmaus, Da Motivator on 24 September 2017
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In our deepest longings, we yearn for the God who made us, and who alone can satisfy us. Often, we do not recognise this and go after penultimate things of this world such as material goods, pleasure, fame, and status. The more we try to stuff our inner emptiness with these things, the more incomplete we feel. This deep longing can only be satisfied by God himself.
PHOTO: In our deepest longings, we yearn for the God who made us, and who alone can satisfy us. Often, we do not recognise this and go after penultimate things of this world such as material goods, pleasure, fame, and status.
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https://www.1zoom.me/en/wallpaper/556685/z3792.4/3840x2160The second stanza continues the prayer to Jesus. It says that Jesus was born to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and the curse of eternal death. To be our Deliverer, He has to be both fully God and fully human, a key doctrine of the Christian faith. As Athanasius the fourth-century church father argued, only one who is fully God and fully man can save us. He has to be the divine King and yet born a human child. There is no one like Jesus, our only Redeemer.
PHOTO: Jesus was born to deliver His people from the bondage of sin and the curse of eternal death. To be our Deliverer, He has to be both fully God and fully human, a key doctrine of the Christian faith. There is no one like Jesus, our only Redeemer.
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The last two lines express an important doctrine: we are saved by God's grace, entirely by the merit of Christ. It is His righteousness alone, not ours, that saves us (Romans 1:17). We cannot do anything extra to earn our salvation. It is freely given to us by God (Ephesians 2:8-9). All that is required to repent and believe, and to receive God's gift. Though we totally incapable of ever bringing ourselves to see God or to approach His throne, it is by the merit and grace of Christ that we are raised to God's glorious throne. If we trust in Christ, we shall be raised and seated with Him in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6).
PHOTO: We are saved by God's grace, entirely by the merit of Christ. It is His righteousness alone, not ours, that saves us. We cannot do anything extra to earn our salvation. It is freely given to us by God. All that is required to repent and believe, and to receive God's gift.Painting by Abraham Hunter - Jesus walked on the water in a terrifying storm
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The second stanza also emphasises the lordship of Christ, who not only died for us, but also seeks to rule over us. He is the King of His Kingdom, which is coming in the future but has already broken into the present - in our world and in our hearts. It is in our hearts that His kingdom must be seen and experienced as He rules over our lives - all for our good. His rule within us should have no rivals ("Rule in all our hearts alone"), and no limit ("reign in us for ever"). All this Christ achieves through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2), who is referred to as the "eternal Spirit" because He is God - the third Person in the Trinity.
PHOTO: The second stanza also emphasises the lordship of Christ, who not only died for us, but also seeks to rule over us. He is the King of His Kingdom, which is coming in the future but has already broken into the present - in our world and in our hearts.
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The kingdom of God has to do with the rule of Christ in our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. We need to ask ourselves whether there are areas of our lives (our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, relationships, hobbies, finances, habits, and so on) that we have yet to fully hand over to the rule of Christ. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us those areas that remain in "rebel territory"; that need to be conquered by Christ's love. It is in this way that God is preparing us for life in eternity, fully reclaimed for Him.
What Christ has started, He will bring to completion on the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6). Just as Israel waited for the Messiah, so now we wait for the Lord who will set all things right, wipe every tear from our faces, and present us faultless before God.
PHOTO: The kingdom of God has to do with the rule of Christ in our hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit. What Christ has started, He will bring to completion on the day of Christ Jesus. Just as Israel waited for the Messiah, so now we wait for the Lord who will set all things right, wipe every tear from our faces, and present us faultless before God.
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What the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi is something that we can pray for one another today: "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).
What are the "fears and sins" (Stanza 1) you need to ask Jesus to release you from?
The "fears and sins" (Stanza 1) we need to ask Jesus to release us from are our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, relationships, hobbies, finances, habits, and so on, that we have yet to fully hand over to the rule of Christ.
PHOTO: The "fears and sins" (Stanza 1) we need to ask Jesus to release us from are our thoughts, attitudes, emotions, relationships, hobbies, finances, habits, and so on, that we have yet to fully hand over to the rule of Christ. Not all fear is sin. The Hebrew word here can be used for reverence, respect, or dread.
Picture posted by Beth Andrews on 07 March 2018
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https://dbethandrews.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/hiding-from-god/
Not all fear is sin. The Hebrew word here can be used for reverence, respect, or dread. Those fears which we need Jesus to release us are those that are the direct result of sin. [3]
Genesis 3:8-10 tells us the story of such fear. After Adam and Eve listened to the temptation of Satan via the serpent (Genesis 3:1-5), they violated the command of God and ate of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6-7).
"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'" (Genesis 3:8-10).
PHOTO: Those fears which we need Jesus to release us are those that are the direct result of sin. Genesis 3:8-10 tells us the story of such fear. After Adam and Eve listened to the temptation of Satan via the serpent (Genesis 3:1-5), they violated the command of God and ate of the forbidden tree (Genesis 3:6-7).
Picture posted by Johanna Rehbaum on Monday, 10 March 2014 at 12:21 PM
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http://pastorjohanna.blogspot.com/2014/03/sermon-you-are-my-hiding-place-mar-8.html
What Adam and Eve had done, they were right to be afraid. This fear is a direct result of sin. It brought separation from God, a flawed world, punishment, and death. Those are the fears which we need Jesus to release us from.
How would this be connected with the reality of Jesus reigning in your heart?
The kingdom of God which has to do with the rule of Christ in our hearts, is through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us those areas that remain in "rebel territory"; that need to be conquered by Christ's love. It is in this way that God is preparing us for life in eternity, fully reclaimed for Him.
PHOTO: How would this be connected with the reality of Jesus reigning in your heart?
The kingdom of God which has to do with the rule of Christ in our hearts, is through the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us those areas that remain in "rebel territory"; that need to be conquered by Christ's love.
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Express your thoughts in prayer.
What the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi is something that we can pray for one another today: "We pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).
PHOTO: What the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi is something that we can pray for one another today:"We pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).
Picture posted by JW.org (Jehovah’s Witnesses)
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2013205_univ_cnt_3_xl.jpg
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20130315/jehovah-our-place-of-dwelling/#p24-p25
We pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to us those areas that remain in "rebel territory"; that need to be conquered by Christ's love. In this way we can be connected with the reality of Jesus reigning in our heart. We learn this is how You prepare us for life in eternity, fully reclaimed for You.
We would like to pray like what the apostle Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi. We pray that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!”
Artwork by Mihály Zichy, a Hungarian painter and graphic artist
Picture from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository
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Reflection - Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Question from source (book): "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Chapter 4, "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus", Page 47.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012
Question from source (book): "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Chapter 4, "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus", Page 47.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012
Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon
"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html
"Finding rest for the soul"Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html
"God in Pursuit"Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html
"God in Pursuit"Lessons from the Book of Jonah, © 2016 by Robert M. Solomon
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
Reference
[1] From "Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, Copyright © 2017 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-11-6752-2, Chapter 4,"Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus", Page 39-47.[2] A. J. Krailsheimer, Pensees (New York: Penguin Books, 1966). 75.
[3] Mark Vroegop, College Park Church - Indianapolis, Indiana, From Our Fears and Sins Release Us, posted on 15 December 2013, https://www.yourchurch.com/sermon/from-our-fears-and-sins-release-us/
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