This Month's Theme:Ā Hoping in Our Savior
Ā
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel,Ā whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. ā€” Micah 5:2
The Hopeful Poet
Micah 5:2 reminds us that Israel spent centuries waiting for their coming King.
The prophetess Anna and devout Simeon's response upon seeing Jesus (Luke 2:22-40) reminds us how joyful His arrival was to those who were waiting and watching for His appearing.
But poet and hymn writer Charles Wesley had more than Christ's first coming in mind when he penned "Come, Thou, Long Expected Jesus."
Charles looked at the world around him — especially the plight of orphans — and described Jesus as the "joy of every longing heart," not just the hearts of people who waited for Him so long ago.
Christ is the joy of those who are hurting and need Him to come into their hearts as their Savior and King right now.
As we move our way toward Christmas this year, let's rejoice as we remember Christ's first coming to earth as well as His coming into our hearts the moment we trusted in Him for salvation.
Fun fact: Charles Wesley wrote nearly 9,000 hymns in his lifetime. That's like writing ten lines of poetry every day for fifty years!
Hymn Study Outline
Jesus Is:
Our Savior (Stanza One)
Our Hope (Stanza Two)
Our King (Stanza Three)
Our Everything (Stanza Four)
Read & Relate
Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
by Charles Wesley, 1707—1788
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.
Luke 2:38; Rom. 6:22; Heb. 2:14-15; Heb. 4:3,10
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Luke 2:25; Joel 3:16; Haggai 2:7; 1 Peter 1:8-9
Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
Gal. 4:4-5; Isa. 9:6; John 18:37; Rev. 11:15
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
Phil. 4:7; Col. 3:15; Rom. 3:23-25; Eph. 2:4-7
