Harkening the Heralds: Crushing

Come, Desire of Nations, come,

Fix in us thy heav'nly Home;

Rise the Woman's conqu'ring Seed,

Bruise in us the Serpent's Head.

The 1739 and 1758 versions of the carol share a rather wonderful fourth verse, the first half of which is quoted above. That modern hymnals and collections should omit this section is beyond belief: it is, quite frankly, fabulous. It is a not without a little pride that I can say that we at Salem Chapel sang it Sunday last, lustily.

'Desire of Nations' is a likely title for the Messiah used in Haggai 2:7, when the prophet speaks to Zerubbabel:

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.

Although the nations are generally hostile and ungodly, their peoples still long for the better life which our expulsion from Eden cost them. Furthermore, the first promise of the coming Deliverer was not to Abraham or Judah, but in the hearing of Eve, mother of all, though addressed to the Serpent:

...because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15-16

The serpent, crawling or otherwise, continues to exercise his influence over the first humans’ progeny, our hearts naturally rebellious and corrupted, like his. While Christ, the Serpent-Crusher dealt Satan a deadly blow at Calvary (though His feet and hands were struck with iron), and shall cast him into the Pit at His return, God’s work in the redeemed heart continues apace. The serpent’s whispered lies are exposed and his malevolent attitudes and values are slowly, but surely, exorcised. That first promise of humanity’s salvation is not just played out on a global and cosmic stage, but upon each human heart which calls upon the name of the Lord. Those of the nations who desire His saving work will find that His saving ministry involves the crushing of Satan’s work and power right within them.

Harken!

Image by wal_172619 from Pixabay