Joy to the World
Psalm 98
Sing a new song to the Lord,
for he has done
wonderful deeds.
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
his holy arm
has shown his saving power!
The Lord has announced his victory
and has
revealed his righteousness to every nation!
He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to
Israel.
The ends of the
earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout to the Lord, all the earth;
break out in
praise and sing for joy!
Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp
and melodious song,
with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.
Make a joyful
symphony before the Lord, the King!
Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
Let the earth
and all living things join in.
Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
Let the hills
sing out their songs of joy
before the Lord,
for he is
coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
and the nations
with fairness.
The great hymn writer Isaac Watts is the author of this
great Christmas Carol. He based it on the above Scripture (Psalm 98) as well as
excerpts from Psalm 96 (verses 11-12) and Genesis 3:17-18. The hymn was published as part of a
collection of hymns called “The Psalms of
David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament (1719). Watts
saw the psalms in a new light when seen from the point of view of the life of
Christ. If you compare Watts’ verses
with the scripture, you will have to admit that great interpretational license
was taken. In any case, it is unique, to
say the least, that we have in this great hymn, a Christmas carol inspired by
the Old Testament.
Another unique feature of
this carol is that it speaks not only of Christ’s birth, but also of His Second
Coming. It speaks of Christ’s birth and
Second Coming simultaneously, which is powerful. The birth of Christ is not just a past event to
be remembered and celebrated, but is also a foretaste of what is to come. It paints the picture of Christ’s victorious
birth and life, but also his ultimate victory that is yet to be seen. Perhaps this is the reason it is such a
faith-inspiring song that I look forward to singing at the end of Christmas Eve
service every year.
In Christ, all that came
before is reinterpreted with new depth AND our future victory is secured and
promised to all who believe. Praise be
to Christ and JOY TO THE WORLD!
Question: Are there ways in which your past is now seen
differently as a result of your present faith in Jesus?
Prayer: God that is beyond space and time, we join
heaven and nature that sings your praises.
Amen.
Prayer Focus: Take time to name 10 things you are thankful
for to God.
Song: Joy to the World – Whitney Houston
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