ZACHARY'S NOTES:

Stanza 1 // Each stanza of this hymn is a prayer. The first speaks to the state of God’s people apart from Christ - mourning in “lonely exile” and in need of God who will “ransom” those who are “captive.” Jesus - Son of God - comes that we might be free from all things.

Stanza 2 // Both Old and New Testaments recognize Christ as “Wisdom” or the “wisdom of God.” Here, we pray for the wisdom of the promised Messiah - what the world sees as foolish! - and the promise we have in Christ’s cross.

Stanza 3 // The God for whom we pray and wait is the same who gave the Law. This stanza puts the grace of God in context - we are saved from a Law we cannot keep. God shows favor to those who disobey and betray Him.

Stanza 4 // This Old Testament promise is echoed in this weekend’s Scripture passage. The promised One comes from the house of David/branch of Jesse to save us from “depths of hell” and give us victory “o’er the grave.” We pray to Jesus - who comes to save!

Stanza 5 // The “key of David” is again a reference to Jesus Christ, this time particularly from the New Testament book of Revelation. This is a reference to the promise we hear in this weekend’s reading - Christ being from the “house of David” - and a promise! God will use this key to open the kingdom of heaven when he comes to earth.

Stanza 6 // Identifying Christ as the Dayspring finds its roots in the song of Zechariah. Like the bright morning star sung elsewhere in other chorales, Christ’s power for which we pray in this stanza is light that would overcome all darkness in mercy and forgiveness.

Stanza 7 // The King for which we wait and pray is one of unity and peace, binding all people together as His forgiven sinners, and giving peace unlike any earthly ruler. When this King comes, he will bring peace, even as the Old Testament prophets promise.

Stanza 8 // The repetition of this stanza turns a prayer into a plea. There is longing in these words, even as we celebrate Advent 4 on Christmas Eve! When these words are repeated - particularly when the hymn is sung as a complete text - we hear them as longing and demand that God would fulfill what He has promised.

Refrain // The repeated word in this refrain is the same given to Mary: “Rejoice!” - “Be glad” - “Know God’s grace!” - God “shall” come to us, as He has promised.

OTHER SUGGESTIONS:

• ELW 257 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - ᴠᴇɴɪ, ᴇᴍᴍᴀɴᴜᴇʟ
• ELW 247 - Come Now, O Prince of Peace - ososǒ
• ELW 251 - My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness - ᴋɪɴɢꜱꜰᴏʟᴅ
• ELW 254 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - ᴊᴇꜰꜰᴇʀꜱᴏɴ
• ELW 263 - Savior of the Nations, Come - ɴᴜɴ ᴋᴏᴍᴍ, ᴅᴇʀ ʜᴇɪᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇɪʟᴀɴᴅ
• LBW 28 - Savior of the Nations, Come - ɴᴜɴ ᴋᴏᴍᴍ, ᴅᴇʀ ʜᴇɪᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇɪʟᴀɴᴅ
• LBW 30 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - ᴊᴇꜰꜰᴇʀꜱᴏɴ
• LBW 34 - Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel - ᴠᴇɴɪ, ᴇᴍᴍᴀɴᴜᴇʟ
• LBW 180 - My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord - ɪᴄʜ ʜᴇʙ ᴍᴇɪɴ ᴀᴜɢᴇɴ ꜱᴇʜɴʟɪᴄʜ ᴀᴜꜰ
• LSB 332 - Savior of the Nations, Come - ɴᴜɴ ᴋᴏᴍᴍ, ᴅᴇʀ ʜᴇɪᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇɪʟᴀɴᴅ
• LSB 338 - Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - ᴊᴇꜰꜰᴇʀꜱᴏɴ
• LSB 357 - O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - ᴠᴇɴɪ, ᴇᴍᴍᴀɴᴜᴇʟ
• LSB 934 - My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord - ᴡᴏ ɢᴏᴛᴛ ᴢᴜᴍ ʜᴀᴜꜱ
• RH 97 - Savior of the Nations, Come - ɴᴜɴ ᴋᴏᴍᴍ, ᴅᴇʀ ʜᴇɪᴅᴇɴ ʜᴇɪʟᴀɴᴅ
• RH 103 - Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel - ᴠᴇɴɪ, ᴇᴍᴍᴀɴᴜᴇʟ