Saturday: “Joy to the World” (A Song Story.)
“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.”
— Lyrics from the hymn, “Joy to the World.”
Merry Christmas, Adam, everyone (get it, Adam came before Eve.) This Saturday of Advent, we are going to spend a few moments learning the story of “Joy to the World,” a classic Christmas hymn that has become synonymous with the joyous celebration of the holiday season. Written by English hymn writer Isaac Watts, the lyrics were first published in 1719 in his collection of hymns titled “The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament.”
“Go ahead — sing your brand-new song to the Lord! He is famous for his miracles and marvels, for he is victorious through his mighty power and holy strength. Everyone knows how God has saved us, for he has displayed his justice throughout history. He never forgets to show us his love and faithfulness. How kind he has been to Israel! All the nations know how he stands behind his people and how he saves his own.
So go ahead, everyone, and shout out your praises with joy! Break out of the box and let loose with the most joyous sound of praise! Sing your melody of praise to the Lord and make music like never before! Blow those trumpets and shofars! Shout with joyous triumph before King Yahweh! Let the ocean’s waves join in the chorus with their roaring praise
until everyone everywhere shouts out in unison, “Glory to the Lord!” Let the rivers and streams clap with applause as the mountains rise in a standing ovation to join the mighty choir of exaltation.
Look! Here he comes! The Lord and judge of all the Earth! He is coming to make things right and to do it fair and square. And everyone will see that he does all things well!” — Psalm 98 (The Passion Translation).
Interestingly, “Joy to the World” was not originally intended as a Christmas song despite its association with Christmas. Isaac Watts wrote the lyrics based on Psalm 98, which is a psalm of praise rather than a specific prophecy of Christ’s birth. The words reflect the universal reign of God and the joy that the world will experience when God comes to rule.
“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.”
The music we now associate with “Joy to the World” was composed by Lowell Mason in the 19th century. Mason adapted the music from parts of George Frederic Handel’s compositions, specifically the section known as the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s oratorio “Messiah.”
“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.”
Over time, “Joy to the World” has evolved into one of the most beloved Christmas carols, capturing the festive and celebratory spirit of the season. Its triumphant melody and uplifting lyrics make it a staple in Christmas celebrations worldwide, spreading the message of joy, praise, and anticipation of Christ’s reign.
