Support the 'Chin's In Camden': December 2012

For a brief history, this song was known to be a song of the “Great Antiphons”. Originally written in Latin, it was translated by John M. Neale, translated as ‘Draw Nigh, Draw Nigh, Emmanuel. The original version was sang on the last 7 octaves, or days, before Christmas, singing one verse per day (December 17-23 with Christmas eve being the final day). The verses were to paint a series of biblical prophesies that were continually fulfilled when Christ was born.

In the first verse, you see Isaiah 7:14 as well as Matthew 1:23 mirrored in this verse. This verse defines the idea of Emmanuel, God with us, and showing Israel being held captive, awaiting their Messiah.

In verse two you see the wisdom of God adored. In verse three, you see the mirror of Isaiah 11, talking about the righteous reign of the branch, and this rod is a representation of Christ. In this chapter, as mirrored through verse 3 of the song, it shows that Christ is the ruler, and He is the only one that can defeat Satan and grant eternal life. The next verse you see shadowed in Malachi 4:2, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings…” Just as the sun comes and brings daylight to night darkness, so will the Son come that we may not be left in darkness and gloom, but bring us to his eternal light. We move to the next verse, speaking of the Key of David, tying with Isaiah 22:22. “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and non shall shut, and he shall shut, and non shall open.” This verse exclaims that this Messiah holds the key to the Kingdom and no one can access it but through Him. In singing these verses, we see the multiple prophecies that were fulfilled! Each verse is another fulfilled prophesy!

In conclusion, the song was taken, as mentioned earlier, from “O Antiphons” also known as “The 7 O’s”. Again, this song was sung the 7 days before Christmas Eve. Here are the 7 O’s, with Latin word with them:

WISDOM, (Sapientia)

LORD (Adonai) AND RULER

ROOT (Radix) OF JESSE,

KEY (Clavis) OF DAVID,

DAWN/LIGHT FROM THE EAST (Oriens),

KING (Rex) OF THE GENTILES

EMMANUEL, (Emmanuel)

In taking the first letter of each word backwards, it spells “ERO CRAS”, meaning in Latin, “TOMORROW I WILL COME”. I beg of you now family, rejoice, rejoice, for our Emmanuel has come! He is our wisdom, our Lord and Ruler, the Root of Jesse, the Key of David, the light from the east, the King of the Gentiles, He is God with us! On this Christmas Eve, let us rejoice in these truths, in these prophesies that were fulfilled through his birth, and the truth that remains and stands solid today.

Merry Christmas

Here are the Lyrics

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 thee, O Israel.

2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,

Who orderest all things mightily;

To us the path of knowledge show,

And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

3. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free

Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;

From depths of hell Thy people save,

And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

4. 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.

Refrain

5. 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.

Refrain

6. O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,

An ensign of Thy people be;

Before Thee rulers silent fall;

All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

6. O come, O come, great Lord of might,

Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height

In ancient times once gave the law

In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

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Monday, December 24, 2012

Oh Holy Night

Christmas Sermon

Monday, December 10, 2012

Draw Nigh, Draw Nigh, Emmanuel

Chin's In Camden