Advent music

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Up next on The World and Everything In It, music of Advent.

NICK EICHER, HOST: From now till Christmas, we’re ending each week with a musical selection. Music from our nation’s Bible schools, seminaries, and Christian universities.

REICHARD: Today, Paul Butler brings us a classic Advent hymn by Charles Wesley.

PAUL BUTLER: Each year, Christians around the world set aside the four weeks leading up to Christmas to remember Christ’s first coming, and anticipate his second. Today’s Advent selection features both themes in one short hymn.

According to Hymnary.org, Charles Wesley’s text was first printed in Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord in 17-44. Originally published as two verses of eight lines each, today, most hymnals break it up into four verses of four lines.

Like so many of Wesley’s hymns, it’s loaded with Scripture. Nearly every phrase contains at least one allusion to Old Testament prophecies or New Testament teaching of Messiah. The hymn ends with an heartfelt invitation for Jesus to come and rule in our hearts.

Here’s the Westmont College Worship Team with their 2016 recording of “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”—arranged Dan Bos and Joel Patterson. The piece has been edited to fit our available space.

MUSIC: [Come Thou Long Expected Jesus]

(Photo/Westmont Magazine)

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