Songs of AdventSample

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for he performs amazing deeds.
His right hand and his mighty arm accomplish deliverance.”

These words, from Psalm 98, are the basis for one of the most famous Christmas carols of all time.

It’s a song that stirs up the heart and prepares the way for Christmas celebrations every year. And some people call it an “accidental Christmas classic.”

Christians have sung the song for more than 300 years. If I were to hum the tune right now, you’d know it instantly.

Joy to the World.

But did you know that it wasn’t written as a Christmas song?

Isaac Watts, who has been called “the greatest name among hymn-writers” wrote it as a poem to highlight how Christ fulfills Old Testament scripture. He wrote it to help people imagine Christ’s return at the end of time.

The song helps us to herald our King, but not in the way the writer intended.

And isn’t that sort of perfect? That a favorite Christmas carol is an unexpected hit. A surprise that no one could have planned for?

It sounds like the story of Christmas itself.

God’s people awaited a Savior. They imagined a conquering King. But he didn’t arrive with a host of soldiers, their armor shining, weapons ready, impressing the nations with power and might.

Their Messiah didn’t come to them from a famous family whose wealth and influence impressed the world.

And He didn’t fall from heaven in a flame of light, the whole world turning to the sky, aware of his arrival.

No, he came to a humble stable, born to a poor and unknown family, a helpless baby. He was easily overlooked.

His heralds were humble shepherds. His welcome committee donkeys and sheep: King of Kings and Lord of Lords who rules the world with truth and grace.

As a humble servant, obedient to his Father, He makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and the wonders of His love.

As we prepare for advent, let every heart prepare Him room.

Let the joy of Jesus fill your heart this advent season. Welcome our surprising Savior into your heart and homes and may he do the unexpected.

Response:

If you have an extra minute, read the lyrics of the song out loud and meditate on the words. If you have an Advent Wreath, you can light the candle of Joy as you do.

Lyrics:

Joy to the world,
the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room,
and heav'n and nature sing, and heav'n
and nature sing, and heav'n,
and heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, 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.