Emmanuel in Exile: Psalm 137 and the Promise of the Messiah

This sermon reflects on Psalm 137 and the Advent hymn "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," exploring Israel’s exile, the loss of God’s presence, and the desperate need for a Messiah. It traces how human rebellion leads to exile and how only the Divine Warrior, Jesus, restores God’s presence. Through the themes of judgment, repentance, and hope, the sermon affirms that Christ is Emmanuel—God with us now in baptism and communion and fully at His return—bringing redemption and reconstituting God’s people.