“Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.”
Matthew 2:2
O Come, All Ye Faithful
“O come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels;
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord.Written by John Francis Wade – 1743
“O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.” The final line of the first stanza beckons the faithful to come, see, and worship the baby king.
The song was written in Latin by John Francis Wade around 1743 and initially titled “Adeste Fidelis.” The version of the Christmas carol we now know and love came to be in later years when the song was translated into English.
The song beautifully reminds us today who Jesus was when Mary gave birth to him in the humble stable in Bethlehem. And who He was then is who He is today.
Fully God and fully man. Savior of the World. King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Good Shepherd. Messiah. Obedient and Suffering Servant. Prince of Peace. Mighty God. The Word Made Flesh. These are only a few names belonging to that tiny baby lying in a rough manger in Bethelem.
Jesus He is worthy of all praise and adoration.
Most of us have a basic understanding of what praise means, but do we practice praise with the attitude and manner Scripture prescribes?
To “praise” in the Old Testament is to celebrate (in), glory (in), sing (about), and boast (of). Praise is exuberant and jubilant, filled with excitement and energy. Praise includes thanksgiving and glorifying God. The New Testament term for praise focuses on proclaiming the innumerable excellencies of God. In the Old and New Testaments, praise is most frequently initiated by angelic beings or humankind and focused on God.
Is your praise jubilant, exuberant, and filled with thanksgiving, excitement, and energy? Does your praise glorify God?
How about adoration? Although “adoration” appears only once in the Amplified Bible and “adore” is used once in Song of Solomon (NIV), the idea behind the words fills Scripture.
While not theological terms, adoration and its root, adore, carry rich meaning. This compilation of dictionary definitions for the word adore paints a beautiful picture.
To adore is to regard with the utmost esteem, love, and respect. Adoration includes the ideas of honor, devotion, deference, and admiration. Reverential worship and veneration (to honor and respect divine power) are acts of adoration. And finally, to truly adore is to delight in, enjoy, and take great pleasure in the object of adoration.
So you see, “adore” is not a word to be used lightly. It is a word of the heart, mind, and will.
When you sing or hear “O Come All Ye Faithful” during this Christmas season, think deeply when you get to the line, “O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord.”
The sweet psalmist of Israel knew what it meant to adore his Lord. Many of the Psalms are truly songs of adoration. David exposes the depth of his love, reverence, and devotion in these words of praise and worship from Psalm 103. Take a moment to read these verses of praise and adoration out loud – affirm them in your head, your heart, and with your lips.
“Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Praise the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His bidding, who obey His word. Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will. Praise the LORD, all His works everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the LORD, my soul.”
Psalm 103:1-5, 20-22 NIV