“Come Thou Long Expected Jesus” - Charles Wesley
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.
This hymn began as a prayer, penned by Charles Wesley as he looked upon the orphans and poor, realizing that only God could ultimately rescue and comfort the broken. The cry that he poured out was a reflection of the heart of our God, His heart to come to His people by sending Jesus, Lord and Savior of the world.
400 years before Jesus was born, Isaiah received a vision of how God would send His Son:
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”
- Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
We need Jesus so much - today, tomorrow, and for all eternity. And He has come! The zeal (fierce love) of our Lord has accomplished this. May we rejoice and live lives that declare this to the world.
Yet, like Wesley, may be we long for even more of our Him- Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Price of Peace - in our lives and in the world around us. Let’s worship and pray together with Isaiah 9:6-7 and the prayer-hymn of, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
