CPTnet
23 December 2008
PALESTINE REFLECTION: O Come O Come Emmanuel

by Sam Nichols

O Come O Come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appears.

As I sat in a church in Jerusalem listening the words of this beautiful Christmas song, I became immediately uncomfortable.  Living in a place where immense injustice is perpetrated in the name of, and by, Israel, I feel uneasy when I listen to hymn and Old Testament references to a righteous Israel. I understand it's a gross misreading of Scripture to equate "Israel" with the State of Israel; it's more accurate to equate "Israel" with the people of God. But nevertheless, the word "Israel" conjures up some negative feelings and emotions inside of me because of my experiences in Palestine/Israel.  But, as the verses progressed and eventually came back to repeat the first verse, I was struck by the power, hope, and the significance of these words.

I thought about the phrase "captive Israel" and the Roman occupation of the Palestinian Jews in the first century. Palestine was probably full of Roman soldiers imposing curfews and checkpoints. I imagine this Roman occupation made the life of the people in Palestine very difficult; the Israelites wanted a way out.

The situation in Palestine today, 2000 years later is very similar. Palestine is still under military occupation, not Roman but Israeli.  Israel confiscates land, segregates populations, imposes curfews, builds walls, and kills people.  The Israeli occupation has made the life of the people in Palestine very difficult, and Palestinians want a way out.

The words of this song ring true today, as they did long ago. The holy land of Palestine is still under occupation, but it's the Palestinians instead of the Israelites who are now held captive under occupation.

This Advent Season I pray that the captives of this occupation are ransomed, that the refugees who mourn in lonely exile will return to their homes.  I pray for the Son of God to appear, for the Kingdom of God to break through in its fullness.

Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace.