“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is not what most people would consider a typical Christmas carol. Its somber melody and chant-like tone feel out of place among upbeat tunes and festive imagery. Yet this ancient hymn, drawn from the “O Antiphons,” beautifully captures the heart of Christmas: longing, waiting, and hope breaking into darkness.
Scripture contains a similar song—the prophetic praise of Zechariah after the birth of his son, John. In Luke 1, Zechariah proclaims that the Messiah is the rising sun or morning light who will shine on those living in darkness. Jesus is the Light of the World, the One who rescues us from the kingdom of darkness and brings us into His eternal kingdom of life and peace (John 8:12; Colossians 1:13).
The words of O Come, O Come Emmanuel echo this truth as they draw from Isaiah 9:2:
“O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.”
Jesus entered a world marked by darkness—and the darkness could not overcome Him (John 1:5). For those sitting in darkness today, whether due to grief, illness, loss, or uncertainty, Christ’s coming brings real hope. We are not abandoned. Death does not have the final word. God is still at work, even when His purposes feel hidden.
This is why Christmas is more than a celebration—it is an interruption. The Light has come. Our Savior, Immanuel, is with us now and will come again. And that is reason to rejoice, even in the night.
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.”
— Luke 1:78–79, NLT
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Thank You, Jesus, for coming into the world to bring salvation and light. You are the Light that darkness cannot overcome. I trust You to shine into the shadowed places of my life, bringing healing, peace, and renewed hope. You are my living hope, the One who conquered death itself. Help me remember that You, Immanuel, are with me no matter what I face.
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
-
Light in the darkness
Light a candle or turn on a light in a dark room. What does this simple act stir in your heart about Christ’s presence and power? -
Anchoring promises
Reflect on a Bible verse that brings you comfort—perhaps one about God’s presence (Matthew 28:20), restoration (Revelation 21:1–4), or Jesus’ return (Revelation 22:20). How does this promise steady you during times of sorrow? -
Names of hope
Consider one of Jesus’ titles from O Come, O Come Emmanuel—Immanuel, Wisdom, Lord of Might, Branch of Jesse, Key of David, Bright and Morning Star, King of Nations. Which name stirs hope in you, and how might you pray it this week?
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Episode Transcript
Life Audio. Thank you for tuning in to your nightly Prayer,
a podcast designed to help you rest and connect with
your Father in Heaven as the day ends. God is
ready to meet you in this moment of peace. As
you settle into sleep. After this short word from our sponsor,
(00:24):
we'll encounter tonight's devotional hope that interrupts our darkness, written
by Sophia Bricker and read by your host, Brooke McLoughlin.
(00:44):
Tonight's scripture Because of God's tender mercy, the morning light
from heaven is about to break upon us, to give
light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death, and to guide us to the path
of peace. Luke one, seventy eight through seventy nine something
(01:05):
to ponder. Oh Come, Oh Come, Emmanuel is not what
most people would classify as a typical Christmas song. The
dirge like sound of the music and chanting lyrics seem
oddly somber compared to the twinkly bell music of other
carols in the imagery of Reindeer and Santa Claus. Yet
(01:27):
this beautifully haunting hymn drawn from the ancient ol Antiphons,
encapsulates the good news of Christmas scripture contains a similar song,
one that Zechariah sang about his son John and the
prophetic role he would play in preparing the way for
the coming of the Lord. The Messiah is the rising
(01:49):
sun in the NIVY or morning light in the NLT
mentioned by Zechariah, who would bring light to those in darkness,
for he is the light of the world, the one
who brings people out of the kingdom of darkness into
a better and everlasting kingdom, as reflected in a line
(02:09):
of the traditional Christmas hymn that references Jesus's fulfillment of
Isaiah nine two, Oh Come, Oh bright and morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar, dispel the shadows of
the night and turn our darkness into light. Jesus came
into the world, and the darkness could not overcome him
(02:31):
John one to five. To those who are sitting in
darkness today, whether from circumstances, illness, or loss, the hope
found in Christ brings light. We are not alone. Death
will not win, and the Lord is working in our
lives to bring about his good purposes, even when we
(02:52):
do not understand or perceive his work. In times of hardship.
This is cause for rejoicing, as the refrain of the
old Christian hymn reminds us, our Savior, who is God
with us, came and is coming again your nightly prayer.
Thank you Jesus for coming into the world to bring
(03:14):
us salvation. You are the light that the darkness cannot overcome,
and I trust that you can dispel the shadows in
my life. Please shine into the areas of hurt, bringing
healing from your love and reviving my hope. For you
are also my living hope, the one who defeated the grave.
(03:34):
May I remember that You, Emmanuel, are with me no
matter what I face. Amen. Three things to meditate upon.
Number one, lighting a candle or switching on a light
in a dark room. What does this action make you
think of and how does it make you feel? Two
(03:56):
a Bible verse that contains a promise that you cherish.
This could be a reference to the Lord's presence, such
as in Matthew twenty eight twenty, the hope of the
coming renewal of all things like in Revelation twenty one
one through four, or the promise of Jesus's return in
Revelation twenty two twenty. How might meditating on this passage
(04:19):
provide you with an anchor to hold on to you
during times of pain or sorrow. And number three, one
of the titles for Jesus from the Christian hymn Come, Oh,
Come Emmanuel, Emmanuel, Wisdom, Lord of Might, branch of Jesse,
Key of David, Bright, and Morning Star, King of Nations.
(04:43):
Which title sparks hope in you? In what way could
you incorporate it into your prayers this week? Thank you
for listening to your Nightly Prayer, a production of the
Life Audio Network. If you found comfort and in inspiration
in tonight's prayer, be sure to follow and subscribe on Apple, Spotify,
(05:05):
or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Today so you
never miss a moment of peace and reflection to end
your day.
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