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Words and Music: Anthony D. Moore (2017)
Begotten of the Father, see the long-awaited One; Promised Victor in the garden, David’s Lord and David’s Son; Born in poverty and sorrow, without home or bed to claim, Angels herald the Messiah—come to live a life of shame. The Word of God incarnate, well acquainted with our grief. Who alone can take our burdens; look to Him and find relief. All our sins were placed upon Him; Father’s wrath He justly bore, Rose in power, death He conquered, now alive forevermore! He is Immanuel, Immanuel, He is Immanuel, Immanuel. The Lord, He goes before us, do not fear nor be dismayed; Shout aloud and join the chorus, “Christ will lead us all the way!” Interceding with His Father, purifying prayer and praise, Till we reign on high in glory with our Bridegroom all our days! He is Immanuel, Immanuel, He is Immanuel, Immanuel. God is with us, God is for us, God within us, Immanuel. God is with us, God is for us, God within us, Immanuel. He is Immanuel, Immanuel, He is Immanuel, Immanuel. Bring honor to the Father as we praise the reigning Son, in the power of the Spirit glorify the Three in One. There will be no death nor mourning for these words are just and true. He is faithful to His promise and is making all things new! |
ABOUT THE SONG
I was looking for a song to end our 2017 Christmas program on Immanuel: God with Us. There were numerous options, but none that hit all of the points I wanted to make. Verse one begins with the allusions to Jesus in the creation accounts of John 1 and Genesis 3, ending with His meager birth celebrated at Christmas. The promised Savior has taken on our flesh. Jesus' role as the suffering servant is the focus of verse two, where we are reminded that although He is with us in our suffering, He has also accomplished eternal victory over our suffering and sin through His death and resurrection. Verse three deals with His active work in our lives as believers. Not only has He taken our sin and given us His perfect righteousness through faith, but He intercedes for us. Our prayers, our worship, indeed, all of our actions are still tainted by sin, but He purifies them all for us before our heavenly Father. The song's final verse is a celebration of our worship among the Trinity and it points to the final and ultimate reference to Immanuel, God with us in the Bible: Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth
had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Revelation 21:1-6a |