This is the first post in an Advent blog series. Read the next post in this series.
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,
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Christmas is a time of joy, a celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world. One song synonymous with this season of joy is “Joy to the World.” Isaac Watts, one of the most renowned hymn writers in history, wrote this famous song. Many of the hymns Watts wrote were inspired by Scripture; and in the case of “Joy to the World,” much of the song was based on Psalm 98.
Though not directly a Christmas Scripture, Psalm 98 carries a Christmas theme as it calls the reader to sing and make a joyful noise to the Lord. And the message of the psalm is echoed in the verses about the first Christmas.
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—shout for joy before the Lord, the King.” -Psalm 98:4-6
The first and most recognized stanza of “Joy to the World” is taken from verses 4-6 of Psalm 98. The verses invite the whole world to sing for the sovereign Lord.
It is not a slow or somber song. The psalm describes a “jubilant song,” played “with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn,” that is shouted rather than sung. This is a loud, celebratory song. It is difficult not to feel the elation while reading the words of Psalm 98.
This is the type of joy Watts aimed to induce with his hymn—a joy where Heaven and nature sing praises to the Lord. Any person would desire this kind of joy, but it can be challenging to respond with joy when life is full of pain and hurt. Shouting for joy is the last thing a heartbroken person wants to do. Did the psalmist write about joy with a hurting and broken world in mind?
Earlier in the psalm, the writer reveals why the people are singing to the Lord.
“He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.” -Psalm 98:3
God had brought salvation to the nation of Israel. It’s not known when Psalm 98 was written, but some commentators believe it was after Israel was delivered from Babylonian captivity. For 70 years, Israel was exiled to Babylon as a consequence for the nation’s sins. Jerusalem was in ruins, and the temple was destroyed. The book of Lamentations records the grief and despair the Israelites experienced.
But God promised to be faithful to His people, in spite of their sin, and return them to Jerusalem. The Lord kept His promise, and the Israelites eventually returned to the holy city and rebuilt the temple.
It was because of pain that the writer of Psalm 98 understood the joy found in the Lord’s salvation. And this salvation wasn’t just for the sake of the Israelites; the nations witnessed God’s faithfulness and knew the God of Jacob was the God who saves. Israel’s salvation was for the benefit of all peoples.
In the same way, a baby born in a manger was not for the benefit of just the Jews but the whole world.
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” -Luke 2:10-11, emphasis added
Even in the most trying seasons of life, there is a reason to shout for joy because the Savior has been born. Earth has received her King, and Heaven and nature can sing, “Joy to the world!”