The first candle (purple) “CANDLE OF HOPE” means His promise and hope. We can have hope because God is faithful and will keep the promises He made to us. Our hope comes from God. (Romans 15:12-13)
The lyrics echo several prophetic themes. The title comes from the well known Isaiah 7:14: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Immanuel is Hebrew for God with us.
The Rod of Jesse
refers to Isaiah 11:1: There shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse
; Jesse was the father of David, second king of Israel. Day-Spring
comes from Zacharias, father of John the Baptist, in Luke 1:78: The dayspring from on high has visited us.
Thou Key of David
is in Isaiah 22:22: The key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder,
which in turn refers to Isaiah 9:6: The government shall be upon His shoulder.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Refrain
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.
Refrain
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Refrain
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.
Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Refrain
O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.
Refrain
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Refrain
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
This is one of my favorites, and so fitting for the first Sunday of Advent.
Love this time of hope, expectation, anticipation!!! Love the photo too!
One of my very favorite hymns. We always start Advent with this hymn and continue singing it up to Christmas.
A blessed Advent to you and yours Ellen. Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Beautiful advent post! Love that song.