I have been reviewing some modern worship songs, but I’ve taken a break to explore some Advent and Christmas hymns. 😀. Today, I’ve chosen Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne:
I think that I first heard this hymn at the YMCA in Cork at Christmas 1981, sung by a Salvation Army lady. And that Christmas, I remember learning it at Cork Baptist Church too. It’s a Victorian-era Christmas hymn written by Emily Elizabeth Steele Elliott in 1864. She composed it for the children at her father’s church, St. Mark’s in Brighton, England. It reflects on Christ leaving heaven to be born humbly on earth. Emily was a niece of Charlotte Elliott (author of Just As I Am).
The key theme is that so many have no room for Jesus in their lives. However, If we do have room in our hearts for him, He’ll have room for us in Heaven (see the last verse). It’s not the most “Christmassy” hymn, but I love the tune. And the lyrics are beautiful too. It was written for children. Perhaps the children of her time had a much greater grasp of English than we do today. Or maybe, they needed it all explained to them 😄.
1 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.
2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
3 The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn, and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.
5 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.
What’s meant by “Thou didn’t leave thy throne”? Well, it speaks of the pre-incarnate Christ. He didn’t just come into existence at Bethlehem. Here are a few New Testament verses that refer to the Son of God before his birth:
John 1:1–3
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through Him.”
Christ is identified as the eternal Word, co‑existent with God, and Creator of all things.
John 8:58 – Jesus declares:
“Before Abraham was, I am.”
He uses the divine name “I AM,” affirming His existence before Abraham and His divine identity.
John 17:5 –
“Father, glorify Me with the glory I had with You before the world began.”
Christ recalls His pre‑incarnate glory shared with the Father.
John 17:24 –
“You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
Christ affirms His eternal relationship with the Father.
Colossians 1:16–17
“By Him all things were created… He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” ➝ Christ is portrayed as the agent of creation and sustainer of the universe.
Here are a couple of international versions of the hymn:
Hibernia Gospel 