This is Part 4 covering the Scriptural background for the lyrics of the song “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”. You can read part 1 at this link and part 2 at this link and part 3 at this link.
The fourth verse of the song goes like this:
“O come, Thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.”
Thou Key of David
This “Key of David” references the power that the Messiah will have to open doors that no one else may close and to shut doors that no one else may open.
This reference and prophecy comes from Isaiah 22:22:
“And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”
Isaiah 22:22
And then this prophecy is shown to be fulfilled in Jesus, later in Revelation 3:7:
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.”
Revelation 3:7
And Open Wide Our Heavenly Home…
This “Key of David” does speak to Jesus’ power to open and close opportunities in every sense of the word, but it does point to specifically – and most importantly – how Jesus holds the keys of life and Death and Hades being the conqueror of them (Revelation 1:18).
Jesus’ power to open up heaven and shut out death forever is the culmination His sacrifice and resurrection. He holds the power to open up the doors of life for each of us, and to close the door leading to death.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:3
Jesus has opened up our permanent home and life in heaven, with Him.
He holds the Key of David that gives Him the power and right to do so.
But will we seek Him?
Will we desire this new Home above our current one?
Will we seek His Kingdom first, rather than our own?
He holds the keys,
He’s opened the door,
And He offers it to us.
Let’s remember the great gift of life and a new citizenship in heaven that awaits for us because of what Jesus did by coming to earth this Christmas season.
Here are a couple verses for you to read, reflect on and I pray you’re blessed by them.
John 14:1-6, Philippians 3:20, Hebrews 13:14