O come, O Rod of Jesse free, Thine own from Satan’s tyranny,
From depths of hell Thy people save, and give them victory o’er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
In alternative hymnals, the opening line is changed to “O come, O Rod of Jesse’s stem, from every foe deliver them that trust thy mighty power to save…” Either way, the rod or root of Jesse signifies the stem from which Jesus would come would be through the lineage of David, the youngest offspring of his less famous father Jesse. The humility of this reference is striking indeed…mentioning Jesse rather than King David. Jesus came in all humility as well, born of a teenage mother, birthed in a simple manger, but with power, majesty, and offering a salvation only He could provide.
Consider in your prayers today that the thought of sending Jesus to earth wasn’t a last minute BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) of God…it was God’s plan from the beginning, foretold in the prophets, and enacted through a very humble lineage. As you pray today, thank God for how intimately acquainted he is with every hair on your head, every concern of your heart, every thought in your mind. Allow the Lord to reign victoriously in your soul, yes even today.
