How is that 'emptying' in any sense of the word?
Steve, I think the key idea, here, is that of bringing to emptiness, vanity, or nothingness; and, consequently, it is applied, here, to a case where Jesus lays aside his rank and dignity, and becomes in respect to that as nothing; that is, he assumes a more humble rank and station.
Further, I submit for your consideration:
It cannot mean that he literally divested himself of his divine nature and perfections. He is God; He could not cease to be omnipotent, and omnipresent, and most holy, and true, and good.
It is conceivable, I suppose, that he might have laid aside, for a time, the symbols or the manifestation of his glory, or that the outward expressions of his majesty in heaven might have been withdrawn.
Even then, that supposes no change in the divine nature, or in the essential glory of His divine perfections. For example, when the sun is obscured by a cloud, or in an eclipse, there is no real change of its glory, nor are its beams extinguished, nor is it changed in any sense. Its luster is only obscured for a time. So it might have been in regard to any manifestation of the glory of the Son of God.
Of course there is much in regard to this which is obscure, but the language of the apostle undoubtedly implies more than that Jesus took a humble place, or that he demeaned himself in an humble manner. In regard to the actual change respecting his manifestations in heaven, or the withdrawing of the symbols of his glory there, the Scriptures are nearly silent, and conjecture is useless - perhaps improper (no disrespect meant to anyone).
The language in Philippians 2:7, I think fairly implies that he laid aside that which was expressive of his being divine - that glory which is involved in the phrase being in the form of God - and took upon himself another form and manifestation in the condition of a servant.