Exegeting the Hymns #22 - Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne
w/m E.S. Elliott

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.

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in greatest humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy 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.

This hymn, written in the 1800’s is one of my favorites as it speaks to what Christ actually gave up to come to earth 2000 years ago. While it is full of “King Jamesey” English, it is a beautiful depiction of Christ who condescended to us.

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown, when Thou camest to earth for me. Christ, the second person of the Godhead, the lamb slain before the foundation of the world, took on human flesh and came to earth to die as our substitutionary atonement. He left the perfect fellowship of the Trinity to be surrounded by barn animals, fishermen, and finally two thieves on a cross. But in Bethlehem's home was there found no room for Thy holy nativity. There are varying translations of the word “Inn” in Luke 2:7. Some believe the innkeeper sent Mary and Joseph to a stable, while others believe the word Inn means “Upper room” where the household lived, so due to so many traveling family members because of the census, Joseph and Mary were forced to stay downstairs where the animals were stabled. Regardless of how you view the birth of our Savior, being laid in a manger is hardly fitting for God’s Son. The writer then makes an application today that as His children, our hearts should always be open to His leading and control of our lives. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for Thee. 

Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming Thy royal degree; but of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth, and in greatest humility. While the birth of Christ was lowly and humble, there were several happenings that pointed to the royalty of the King of kings’ arrival. A private meeting with Gabriel announced to Mary God’s plan, an angelic host majestically informed the shepherds that the Messiah had come, a local king displayed his jealousy, and a group of king makers from the east understood that Jesus was the rightful heir to the abandoned throne of Israel.

As many hymns do, both Christmas and other, the final verse jumps ahead to the second coming of Christ and the subsequent Kingdom. When the heavens shall ring, and the angels sing, at Thy coming to victory. The second coming will be very different from the first. It won’t just be a handful of people who realize what is happening. The whole world will fall prostrate before the Sovereign of the universe. Let Thy voice call me home, saying "Yet there is room, there is room at My side for thee." One of the most amazing thoughts that occupies my mind is that the Creator of the universe will share His throne with me. Revelation 3:21 says, “He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” We will judge the world and will judge angels. That just blows my mind because I am not worthy of any of this, but that is the very nature of grace and why God will be the one to receive all the glory and why “My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus, when Thou comest and callest for me."

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