Come, You People of the Promise, verse 3

"I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”I Kings 6:13

Oftentimes I meditate on God's plan of redemption for His people, and frankly, I am overwhelmed. Overwhelmed that His plan included sending His Son, fully God and fully man, to live on earth among His people.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

God's incarnation, through Jesus, is a great encouragement to me. Jesus was born as a baby, grew up just like other humans, felt the emotions and faced the temptations that we face. Because of this, He can sympathize with us in our weakness. Our Lord knows what it's like to be "us"!

Isaiah prophesied this thousands of years ago.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-8

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Let's think about that phrase. Zeal is fervor or eager desire for a person, cause or object. I think the Lord of hosts' zeal was for His people, in addition to His Son. Through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son, God glorified Himself. He had fervor and eager desire for His people to be saved from their sins, and for His Son to accomplish the plan that He had arranged from the beginning of creation.

God sent His Son to give His people peace and to show Himself the God of justice and righteousness. As His people, we have peace knowing that we have been reconciled with God through His Son. We have peace knowing that our God is working all things for our good and His glory. We have peace knowing that our Savior knows us each by name and has a plan for our lives.

Certainly, our tears have been turned to gladness. Jesus Christ has taken our sin on His shoulders and saved us from the wrath of God. The baby born in a manger, born to die, died that we can live forevermore. We, the ransomed of the Lord, can return and come with joy!

And the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Isaiah 35:10

Dear Father,
Thank you for your plan that sent Your Son to earth to pay for the sins of the world. Thank you that Jesus Christ is our peace, and that because of our redemption, we are counted righteous before You. Help us to to be joyful in our appreciation for Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

Come, You People of the Promise
Words by Joy Patterson

Come, you people of the promise,
Sing for joy! The time is near!
God, the covenant fulfilling,
Soon among us will appear!
As proclaimed in prophet’s story,
Christ will come in humble glory—
God with us, Emmanuel!

Long in darkness we have waited,
Through the shadows made our way,
Gloom and sorrow our companions
As we longed for signs of day—
Great our need for hope and healing,
Some great light our God revealing,
God with us, Emmanuel!

God’s own Son shall dwell among us;
Shadows vanish in that light.
Earth shall know his peace and justice:
Christ who comes shall rule in might.
Let our joy dispel all sadness:
He who comes turns tears to gladness—
God with us, Emmanuel!