Advent Through the Lens of Four Christmas Songs

First Sunday of Advent 2010 AD

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Part 5

Matthew 1.23

— Verses 6 and 8 – Lord, Desire of Nations – Exo 19.16, 18; Hag 2.6-7; Heb 12.25-28.

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.

8. O come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind; Bid Thou our sad divisions cease, And be Thyself our King of Peace.

The names Lord of Might and Desire of Nations both relate to the giving of the Law.  The Lord of Might gave the Law to Israel at Sinai with lightning and thunder (Exo 19.16).  Desire of Nations is the name given to the Lord in Haggai when it says that he will shake heaven, earth, and all nations, and that the nations shall come to him (Hag 2.6-7).  Hebrews tells us that Jesus (preincarnate) was the Lord of Might who shook the earth at Sinai, and that Jesus is the Desire of Nations who shakes heaven and earth from his throne in heaven (Heb 12.25-28).

At Sinai, Jesus wrote the Law of Love on tablets of stone (Exo 31.18; Mat 22.37-40).  Israel the Bride showed how well she kept her marriage covenant when she crucified Jesus the Bridegroom (Jer 2.2; 3.14; 31.31-32; Mat 9.15).  After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus wrote the Law of Love on tablets of flesh — on the hearts of his people — so his Bride could share his Spirit and walk in his Law of Love (Jer 31.33).  At Sinai, Jesus shook one nation. Now seated in heaven, Jesus shakes all nations.  And he shakes them not because he wants to mess with people, but because he wants to save them.  Jesus shakes the nations so they will turn to him (Heb 12.25-28).

In the Old Testament, Jesus wasn’t even the desire of his own people (except only momentarily).  Now he shall become the Desire of all Nations.  When the ground shakes, people grab for whatever they believe will bring them stability, safety, peace.  The only thing that is stable — the only thing that cannot be shaken — is Christ’s Kingdom (Heb 12.27-28).  He only is the King of Peace (Heb 7.2).  Peace (shalom) means, among other things, restoring the bits and pieces of our fragmented life (as individuals and as a race) into the beautiful, integrated whole God intended.  Only Christ can give the gift of peace.  And if you would receive this gift, you must receive it from a King.