Spirituality

O Key of David – O Antiphons – Day 4

“O Key of David
and sceptre of the House of Israel;
you open, and no one can shut;
you shut, and no one can open:
Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,
Those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.” 1

I am drawn to this irrevocable statement:

“O Key of David… you open, and no one can shut; you shut, and no one can open.”

It is dynamic, compelling, potent.

Isaiah prophesied:
“I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open.” Isaiah 22:22
“His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onwards and for evermore.” Isaiah 9:7
“… To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” Isaiah 42:7.

Freedom calls

Freedom, sweet, freedom – calling, pleading. The door is open, and no one can shut it.

But here’s the thing, are you willing to walk through?

I went to a Ladies’ Day apart with my sister-law one beautiful Spring day. The sky was brilliant aquamarine, the sun, golden and gracious. The breezes whispered tantalizing promises of Summer to come.

We were sitting in a barn-like building on the top floor. At each end of the barn toward the ceiling was a rectangle, a cut-out, it was open, no mesh, screen or glass blocking the way. Somehow, perhaps through that open space, a bird flew in where we were all sitting. We watched it as it flew back and forth, dipping and soaring. It was looking for a way out.

Fly, fly away

I watched fascinated as it flew right to the opening and perched there.

Then it flew back and forth again. It didn’t seem to get that all it had to do, was fly through the opening.

I wanted to jump up and say, “just fly through, see, it’s open, go, fly away, fly!”

Trapped

I thought then, “wow, that’s just you and me.” Sometimes, we are exactly like that bird. Freedom is right there, and we are perching on the windowsill. The window is open, anytime we want we can fly away. But, for a time, seemingly stuck in a certain circumstance we think we are trapped.

Do we linger in unforgiveness though the release from bitterness offers peace? Are we laden by expectations of others and therefore suffering many disappointments? What if we let go? Would it offer unexpected freedom?

How often do we see only the negative when gratitude is the antidote? Why shut down communication when curiosity and learning to listen would break down barriers.

So on it goes.

And, freedom waits.

Yet, we flutter at the opening, do not fly through.

What we are offered

Gloriously, Jesus, Key of David offers us emancipation, deliverance.

He, in His marvellous love and mercy, gives us a choice.

We get to choose – shake off the chains, be set free from bondage.

Free to choose

We. Get. To.

Choose.

Spread our wings:

Fly, little bird, fly!

O Wisdom,
O Lord and Ruler,
O Root of Jesse,
O Key of David,
O Morning Star,
O King of the Nations,
O Emmanuel,

Come, Lord Jesus.

1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_Antiphons

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