December 8, 2020 – “Joy to the World!”
Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing!
As long as I can remember, we sang this hymn at Christmas time, usually after a Christmas program celebrating the Christ Child’s being born. The melody and the words were delightful.
Eight hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Isaiah prophesied his birth. Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14. Two chapters later, there is a clearer picture of this prophecy. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:6-7.
Immanuel’s meaning is God with us. And so, it came to pass as prophesied. How many times I heard my Dad read Luke 2:1-20, the story of the birth of Jesus on Christmas Eve. My favorite part were these two verses, And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”Luke 2:13-14.
I didn’t wonder why as a child, and then when I learned more, and heard the commandments from the God with us, Jesus, I learned about Love and its far-reaching aspects. Jesus was born so He could die for us. The tiny babe laying in the manger the shepherds came to see and worship, would die for everyone who believes, for the many generations who have walked this earth. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reign, Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding Joy.
Where are these words written? 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! Psalm 98:4-6
The second verse of Joy to the World lists the creation of the earth – have you heard God’s creation sing praises to our 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… Psalm 98:7-8a.
Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics of Joy to the World. What was Isaac Watts early life like? He was born July 17, 1674, in England. He proved to be a precocious child, learning to read almost as soon as he could articulate. He wrote verses as a boy. He attempted poetry in English and Latin. In 1705, he published his first volume of poems called Horae Lyricae. Some hymns he has written are: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, “Alas! And did my Savior Bleed,” “Come We that Love the Lord.” And many more. The wonder of his music, after years of only singing the Psalms in church, he found the New Testament prove to be a new way to worship God in song. He wrote the book, Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs of Isaac Watts.
Lowell Mason arranged the music from the original music by George Frederick Handel. Lowell Mason grew up in a musical family and began training at 13. He published his first collection of hymns and anthem in 1822. He worked as a choir leader, a missionary, in a salaried position as a bank clerk and a dry goods business, while writing music. Some song melodies he wrote are “The Lord’s Prayer”, “Nearer My God to Thee”, “There Is a Fountain”, and “Joy to the World”.
As we sing the third and fourth stanzas, we see God’s Story has no end. Jesus is coming again. These lyrics tell us what Isaac Watts planned all along, a song for the Second coming of Jesus Christ!
No more let sins and sorrow grow, Nor thorn infest the ground He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found. These lyrics make these verses come alive and reveal that Isaac Watts knew God. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” Revelations 7:14.
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what He has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:12-13.
What does this mean to you and me? It guides the way we live. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:15-17.
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of His salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. Psalm 96:1-4.
Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the Lord is upright, and all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord. Psalm 33:1-5.
Sources used beside God’s Holy Word. Isaac Watts