Good morning. As we continue giving our thoughts for the day to the task of considering and enjoying some of the wonderful hymns and carols of Christmas, today I would like to have us consider one of the all-time favorite Christmas hymns, “Joy to the World”.
“Joy to the World” is an English Christmas carol. Written in 1719 by the English minister and hymnwriter Isaac Watts. To say that Isaac Watts was a prolific writer of Christian songs and hymns would be something of an understatement. There are over 750 Christian hymns attributed to him. That may sound like a lot, but we should remember that when God decides to inspire someone for this purpose, we need to suspend our judgements. Charles Wesley has 9,989 songs and hymns attributed to him. It was his goal to write 10 pieces every day. Wow!
“Joy to the World” is Isaac Watts interpretation in song of Psalm 98, verses 4-9 in particular: Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord! Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
In 1719 when it was first written, “Joy to the World” was sung to the music of a song from “THE OLD PSALM-BOOK.” No one seems to know which song in particular was used, but you can be very sure that it was quite different from what we know and sing today. Our music for “Joy to the World” was provided by the famous musician and Christian composer Lowell Mason in 1848. The melody that he wrote for the song has endured throughout the years.
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Of all the wonderful expressions of Christmas I don’t know if any could be more fitting than joy. Joy is at the heart of what God has done for us. It was for joy that Jesus came to us and for joy that He endured the cross for us.
When we read Psalm 98, from which this Christmas hymn was inspired, we readily see that joy is the theme, and that joy is commanded by God. Joy in the Lord, the Psalmist tells us, is too great and powerful a truth to be reserved for the voices and hearts of people. All of creation is caught up in the celebration of Joy in the Lord’s coming.
When we rejoice in this Christmas season, we are joining our thoughts and voices with the creation of God!
Joy to the world! The Christ has come to us! The King of Kings and Lord of Lords was presented to the world in a manger within a stable!
Vern