O Come, Emmanuel 8: Misery's Path

My eighth Christmastide reflection on that beautiful carol, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, focusses upon its fourth verse’s second couple of lines:

Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

The way that leads on high is the way to God, to heaven- the of way of Jesus Christ. Each Christian is on a pilgrimage to the Celestial City, the destination to which her spirit aspires and her earthly journey concludes. Although some of the company is convivial and there are many sweet tokens lining the way, there are also perils a-plenty. The devil prowls like a roaring lion, persecutors eyes God’s gentle people, riches alure many from the path and false religion will seek to tempt us from the narrow way. Yet of the pilgrims described in Psalm 84, though tey pass through dry valleys and barren places:

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. (v7)

Christ ensures His people make it home, weal as they are. He keeps hold of them, not desiring to lose any to the fallen world. His converted people have little desire for the wallowing mud or piles of dog-vomit, for the way of misery is behind them, never to be re-sought. The fleshpots of Egypt and all the cucumbers scarcely interest them, for Christ is their goal, and God Himself is their shield and very great reward. Christ came down at Christmas to save us -and to keep us.

This is the real meaning of Christmas.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel;
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer,
Our Spirits by Thine Advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, thou Lord of Might
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

From the text of the 1851 translation by John Mason Neale of from the twelfth-century hymn Veni, Veni, Emmanuel, published in Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861)