新心音乐 · Album: 圣诞新心. Explore “Veni, Veni, Emmanuel”: song information and official sources.
Our misery in sin · Darkness and bondage
The hymn grows from Advent's Great O Antiphons. In the customary Roman rite, evening prayer from 17 to 23 December invokes Christ each day through an Old Testament title, including Emmanuel, Root of Jesse, Key of David and Dayspring. Each stanza therefore joins a title to a petition. Its narrative frame and refrain are distinctive among Christmas hymns: they borrow exiled Israel's voice to sing from darkness and waiting. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. The light has shined on those who lived in the land of the shadow of death.” Isaiah 7:14 promises, “the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” The refrain then turns to rejoicing. Admitting that we still wait before rejoicing is pastorally valuable in Advent, keeping Christmas from becoming mere festivity.
Advent, especially the first two Sundays, and waiting before Christmas; teaching on Isaiah's promises or Old Testament titles.