Songs Of Hope - Sing We Now Of ChristmasExemplo

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Dear Desire of Every Nation

Charles Wesley, the gifted Methodist hymn writer, was mindful of both the world around him and the Scriptures before him. In 1744 he noticed the plight of the orphans in England and the painful class divide in Great Britain. At that time, he was also considering the promise in Haggai 2:7:

And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

Wesley’s pondering and praying led him to publish this prayer which he later developed into a hymn:

Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring.
By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone;
by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen.

In the full text of the hymn he wrote, Wesley declared Jesus to be:

Israel’s Strength and Consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation, Joy of every longing heart.

Wesley’s intent was for people to remember and commemorate the arrival of Jesus and to prepare for His Second Coming.

Charles Spurgeon included sections of this hymn in his Christmas sermon of 1855. He made the point that very few are “born king,” and that Jesus was the only one who was born king without first being a prince.

This hymn stirs anticipation in me! Anticipation looks ahead to what is coming, whether with dread or pleasure. When I anticipate something good, its goodness blesses me even before it comes to pass! In the case of Jesus’s coming, the pleasure is great. I look back, up, and forward to see and adore The Desire of All Nations. Come, King Jesus, and fill our homes and hearts with your glory!

Dr. Shawn Shannon
Director, Baptist Student Ministry
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor