Joy to the World

Psalm 98:1-4
O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gained him victory. The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.

 Joy to the World LBW 39

1    Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive its King;
     let ev’ry 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.

2    Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns! Let all their songs employ,
      while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy,
      repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

3    No more let sin and sorrow 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.

4    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.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

      Is it too early for Christmas, or is it too late?  Whatever, remember I am going alphabetically so we are in the J’s and we have today what many think of as a "Christmas Carol".  But it is not a Christmas Carol.  When we sing it, many think it a reference to Luke 2, the song of the angels to the shepherds. But Isaac Watts got his inspiration for this hymn from Psalm 98, where the Psalmist calls upon creation to shout and sing for joy!  In fact nowhere in this paraphrase of Psalm 98 is the birth of Jesus even mentioned!

      But even though this is not a Christmas Carol, it is a wonderful witness to the work of God in creation.  Coupled with a tune written by the famous composer, Felix Mendelsohn, it is a beautiful vision of God’s handiwork.  It looks at God’s work in the world, which included the manger, at the glories of God’s reign in the present, and ahead to that day when truth and grace shall rule.  Indeed, it is a tune fit for any day of the year people want to gather and sing about the “wonders of his love”!

Prayer:  Father, make us a people of joy, always anxious and able to sing of your gifts, your presence, and your promise, the wonders of your love!  Amen.