From “My Faithful Lord”
Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne is one of my all-time favorite Christmas hymns. When I was a little girl I heard this tune for the first time while singing in our church congregation. The words are wonderful, because they incorporate the heavenly and earthly aspects of the advent of Jesus Christ. You can also find a progression here from the work of the cross to the salvation of the world.
The clear call of Christ to the people He came to save remains the same today, “There is room at My side for you.” Will you respond by saying, “O come to my heart Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for you!”?
“He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:10-14
The Lyrics are Beautiful:
- Thou didst leave thy throne And thy kingly crown When thou camest to earth for me, But in Bethlehem’s home Was there found no room For Thy holy nativity: O come to my heart Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for thee!
2. Heaven’s arches rang When the angels sang Proclaiming Thy royal degree; But of lowly birth Didst Thou come to earth, And in great humility; O come to my heart Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for thee!
3. The foxes found rest And the bird its nest In the shade of the forest tree; But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God, In the deserts of Galilee: O come to my heart Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for thee!
4.Thou camest, O Lord, With the living word, That should set Thy people free; But, with mocking scorn, And with crown of thorn, they bore Thee to Calvary: O come to my heart Lord Jesus; There is room in my heart for thee!
5. When the heavens shall ring, And the angels sing At Thy coming to victory, Let they voice call me home, Saying, ‘Yet there is room. There is room at My side for thee!’ My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when Thou comest and callest for me.
Emily Elliot, 1836-1897; Timothy R. Matthews 1826-1910
