Carols Devotional: “It’s About The Wait”

Christmas: It’s about the wait

“Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses despite the perilous times.” (Daniel 9:25)

Christmas was preceded by a long wait. The Messiah’s arrival was prophesied 500 years before it occurred (Daniel 9:24-27). Israel spent five centuries looking for signs of a not-yet promise. The savior was promised to a people landlocked in perilous circumstances.

Perhaps that’s why many famous Christmas carols sound like the discomfort of waiting. “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” for example, begins with a collection of minor chords. A minor chord is created by lowering the third note, which makes the chord sound close to resolution without fully arriving there. It echoes the sound of a not-yet promise.

“O Come O Come Emmanuel,” uses minor chords to relay the sound of unanswered prayer, a collection of questions that end in a period: O Come. Ransom us. Cheer us. Be our King of Peace.

Next time you sing these words, listen to the notes. The minor key makes the notes seem unsettled in the melody.

But then something miraculous happens. The chorus suddenly switches into a major chord, the dissonance resolves, and the words declare: “Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel. Shall come to thee O Israel.”

In the ache of waiting, Israel resolves to stand on the promise: Emmanuel shall come. There is reason to rejoice. The musical key conveys the resolute posture of their heart.

What are the circumstances in your life that feel like unresolved minor keys? Spend some time declaring the resolved promises of our Prince of Peace over your minor-key circumstances.

Here are some places to start: Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 11:28-29, Isaiah 40:29-31, Philippians 4:19, Romans 8:37-39, Proverbs 1:33, and John 14:27

Bekah DiFelice