The Christmas Carols: Past, Present, & Future HopeSample

Day 2

Joy to the World!

Read: Psalm 98

When is it too early to listen to Christmas music? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Black Friday? December 1?

Whenever you change your playlist, at some point, most will begin listening to Christmas music by the time December rolls around. However, one Christmas carol was intended to be sung in July . . . and April . . . and February! It is the most popular Christmas song in North America, “Joy to the World!”

In 1719, prolific hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote this song and published it in his book, “The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament.” Yet, roughly 3,000 years before Watts arranged it with a Christian perspective, the Psalmist wrote the message in Psalm 98. Interestingly, Psalm 98 is not about Jesus’ birth. It is a psalm about when the LORD will come “to judge the earth . . . with righteousness, and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:9).

The earth celebrates with joy, in Psalm 98 and in Watts’ hymn, when the Messiah comes in righteous judgment. This reference is clearly NOT to Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, but to Jesus’ return at the end of the world as pictured in Revelation 19:11-21. The earth rejoices on that day because sin and sorrow will finally and fully be dealt with. Jesus will rule the world with truth and grace, and all will see the “wonders of His love” (see Revelation 20). After the establishment of this Kingdom, Jesus will also usher in a new heaven and a new earth that will make His blessings flow upon the earth in opposition to the effects of the curse (compare Genesis 3:14-24 with Revelation 21-22.)

Knowing this background, is it wrong to sing “Joy to the World” at Christmastime? Absolutely NOT! This song is great any time of the year, including Christmas. When we think of Jesus’ birth, we also can sing for joy at His coming, when the full effects of what this song promises will be felt upon the earth. The historical reality of His first coming is a down payment on the reality of His second! Just as Jesus brought forgiveness for our sins and revelation of who God is at His first coming, He also will bring judgment and righteousness at His second coming.

So, join the world in singing JOY this year . . . knowing that God’s redemption is coming.

Joy to the World

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.