Long lay the world...Until

So, I was pretty much a blubbering mess today during worship (thankfully I was in the congregation and NOT up on the stage). I wanted to share just what was so special about our worship today that it caused me to weep more than sing.

It started with “Oh, Holy Night.” The words: Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘til He appeared and the soul felt its worth struck me today as never before. Having just completed an in depth study of Hosea and Amos, LONG LAY THE WORLD became suddenly ALIVE to me. In Hosea 10: 13-15, for example, we read:

You have plowed wickedness, you have reaped injustice,

You have eaten the fruit of lies, 

Because you have trusted in your way, in your numerous warriors, 

Therefore a tumult will arise among your people, 

And all your fortresses will be destroyed, 

As Shalman destroyed Beth-arbel on the day of battle, 

When mothers were dashed in pieces with their children,

Thus it will be done to you at Bethel because of your great wickedness. 

At dawn the king of Israel will be completely cut off. 

(emphasis added by me).

Humanity was hopeless...Israel was worshipping idols in God’s sacred temples, they were sacrificing their own children to Baal, they were making alliances and paying off other leaders in order to try to keep themselves safe. What is even more astounding is that a close reading of these years of kings and prophets reminds us that we are not so different than that old Israel.

God said, “Because of your great wickedness...you will be completely cut off.”

And thus begins, “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, UNTIL HE APPEARS!!!”

Yes, the long-awaited, long-hoped for MESSIAH. The only one who can make us, in our sinful, self-serving humanity, WORTHY of an inheritance in the kingdom of God.

So, this is how I came to feel a little emotional during worship. Then the bottom fell out of my tenuous control of my tears when we reached the closing song and it was a medley of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” and “Tremble”????!!!!

That’s it. I’m done. Are you kidding me? Can.not.stop.the.tears.

Because here’s where Israel was headed, and where we all are headed without God:

I saw the Lord standing beside the altar, and He said, 

“Smite the capitals so that the thresholds will shake, 

And break them on the heads of them all! 

Then I will slay the rest of them with the sword; 

They will not have a fugitive who will flee, 

Or a refugee who will escape. 

Amos 9: 1 NASB 

But here’s where the appearance of Jesus takes us:

O come, Thou 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.

O come, O come, Emmanuel lyrics 

We were the enemy. We were “without an escape.” Until the Son of God appeared (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel). Til He appeared, and the soul felt its worth (O, Holy Night.).


Now THAT is reason to rejoice.