Notes of Noel - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

 

Season of Advent - Hope  Each week of the season of Advent which leads up to Christmas carries a deep meaning, the first one is hope. I've often thought of hope even though you can't see it or touch it you know when you've got it and you know when you don't. Hope is something that we all need, whether that be for a physical need, financial concerns, emotional and family struggles, the list goes on why having hope that a situation will change is so important.  Our first song in the Notes of Noel is one that you can almost feel the desire of the songwriter. Our song is Come Thou Long Expected Jesus originally written by Charles Wesley who penned over 6,500 hymns, and this is just one of many with an incarnation and Christmas theme. In this version we also have a chorus and verse by Meredith Andrews which brings a fresh feel to this beautiful song.  Firstly let's read the lyrics.  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 forever now thy gracious kingdom bring By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone By thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne    You draw the hearts of shepherds, You draw the hearts of kings Even as a baby, You were changing everything You called me to Your Kingdom before Your lips could speak And even as a baby, You were reaching out for me And now we are awaiting the day of Your return When every eye will see You as heaven comes to earth  Until the sky is opened until the trumpet sounds The bride is getting ready the church is singing out 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 Come, thou long expected King Have a listen and watch of Come Thou Long Expected Jesus Let's look at the lyrics:

You can feel the desire and desperation in the opening line 'Come thou long expected Jesus'. The people waiting for a Messiah those couple thousand years ago had been waiting for hundreds of silent years. No sound of a saviour, no sign of him coming, even as the people of God desired to be set free, they waited and hoped.  To hope and desire is a powerful thing. I think back to a trivial example of being a little kid who so wanted the new Atari 2600 gaming system (Some of you won't have a clue, others will know exactly what I mean) and I hoped for it on Christmas. My hope turned to sadness as it wasn't at first, then a final present which seemed to be the right size, and there it was. The state of the art gaming system that every boy my age had to have, my desire had been fulfilled.  They waited for freedom from their captors but more than that their own troubles. We all have them, fears and sins which keep us in bondage, worries which hold us back from truly living. It's in the saviour that we find our rest, not a nice afternoon nap, (although that sounds amazing) but the ability to be settled. It can be so difficult to find rest within a busy day, during the middle of trials, illness and stresses with children. There are times where rest is exactly what's needed. It's in Jesus that we find our true rest. Matthew 11:28 says 'Come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest'  Jesus coming was and is the hope of all the earth. At this point in the song, the desire is for him to come, this is the waiting room. The desire of all people, everywhere, desire that will turn to joy. When Jesus comes on the scene, the longing heart experiences joy. Later in the season we'll no doubt sing 'Joy to the World' what an accurate set of lyrics, the ultimate joy and consolation is the saviour, Jesus. Psalm 34:17 says The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. Jesus was born to deliver, that's why he came. To be the ultimate sacrifice for everyone, everywhere once for all, to be The Deliver. Wesley's thoughts go from desiring a saviour to the realisation of one being born as a child yet a king. A king who would rule then, now and forevermore. The miracle of the incarnation, our faith is based upon a miracle, no wonder we seek for the miraculous today. This song speaks to the eternality of the king Jesus, a reign that is forever and a rule that governs our heart.  The next two verses or chorus and bridge are not original to the song, they are modern additions by singer, Meredith Andrews. I find the words compelling as they use the themes which the original text has and builds upon them. Even as a baby Jesus was changing the world around him, as he came to the earth he brought hope and joy, drawing the hearts of all including kings.  The last part is all about another advent. The meaning of advent is a breaking in, and what a breaking in it will be when Jesus comes again. We find ourselves in that same place as the people of God a couple of thousand years ago, desiring a saviour, only this time as a second advent. Every eye will see his coming, all ears will hear of his return as the sky opens and trumpet sounds. This song takes us from before the incarnation right the way through to the culmination of Jesus returning as the king.  As you listen and sing, may you too desire his deliverance in your life, and may your heart be drawn to know him more.  To enjoy the whole album, simply click on this link and you'll find each song from her Christmas album, it's a really wonderful sound.  Meredith Andrews Christmas