Songs Of Hope - Sing We Now Of ChristmasSample

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Is There Room?

“Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” is not exactly a common Christmas hymn. We certainly don’t hear it while walking through the mall. In truth, we really don’t sing it a lot in church. The uneven rhythm of the song probably contributes to that. It’s musical “hook” is not as strong as many hymns.

The song plays off one of the most common themes of the Christmas story—no room in the inn. From a Christmas perspective, that is the “normal” element of the hymn. It isn’t a very common Christmas hymn, though. It is a much bigger story. Emily Elliot, the author, wrote the song for the children’s choir of her father’s church in Brighton, England. Her goal seems to have been to connect the nativity story to Jesus’ larger life and ministry—going from the manger to the desert to the cross, and finally to his triumphant return.

While the song references several New Testament stories, it’s real foundation seems to be one of the original great hymns of the church: Philippians 2:5-11. Referring to Jesus, Paul says

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross.

It is the servant Jesus that lies at the foundation of this hymn. The God who chose to step down. The God who chose to become a helpless babe. The God who gave up everything. The God who served. The God who humbled Himself. The God who died for us. The God who is worthy of worship.

That Jesus is the one whom we honor with this hymn. The most powerful twist of the hymn is the play Elliot makes on the “no room at the inn” theme. The hymn reminds us that Jesus was often on the outside, but it also calls us to something more. The refrain of the hymn lays down the challenge “come to my heart Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for thee.” Amen, come Lord Jesus.

Dr. Marty McMahone
Professor, McLane College of Business
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor