Encore Post: O King of the Nations, the Ruler they long for, the Cornerstone uniting all people, Come and save us all, whom You formed out of clay.
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unem, veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
Everyone wants a hero king. A strong, powerful, attractive warrior, a leader who inspires loyalty. In our stories, myths and ballads, he is without flaw and brings peace through strength. Of course, this king is from our tribe! He conquers all and resolves all our disputes. The more arrogant of us think this king should be me !
There have been real kings that did most of these things. Alexander the Great unified the Western world. Augustus Caesar repeated the feat three hundred years later. There were Israel’s Kings David, Solomon and Hezekiah. Egypt had its Ramses and Cleopatra. England had Arthur and others. The problem with all of them, great as they were, is they were flawed — and made lots of enemies.
Isaiah prophesied the real King, the Messiah, would come to unite the nations. (Isaiah 2:2-5, Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 60) The Messiah brings peace that lasts forever. He will prevail where mortal kings cannot because He is God and lays down his life for his people. He brings together all peoples as one because he removes the sin that divides them. He is the cornerstone on which the eternal, peaceable kingdom is built.
Our antiphon calls on him to come and save us. We are mortal and cannot save ourselves. He is eternal and is salvation itself. He has already come and made his people a kingdom of priests to serve for the sake of others. When he comes again, he will remove the darkness cast overs us and live with us forever.
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!
Lutheran Service Book, 357, Stanza Seven
Rev. Robert E. Smith
Concordia Theological Seminary
Fort Wayne, Indiana
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