“Joy to the World”

PURPOSE: To help listeners sing the carols with meaning.

There was a time when what we consider “old hymns” were new hymns. Many of the Christmas carols that we sing were composed in the 18th century. At that time, those old hymns were “new” hymns. Folks back then were as upset by that music as some people today may be upset by new music in the church.

One of those hymn writers who sang a new song was a man named Isaac Watts. In his growing-up years in the churches, they actually sang the psalms. They wouldn’t have an organ and many times they sang a cappella. But for young Isaac Watts, the music didn’t touch him. One day he came home from the church and said to his father, “I could write better hymns than that.” And his father said, “If you can, why don’t you try?” And Isaac Watts not only tried, but wrote many, many hymns which are included in our hymnbooks today.

One of his hymns that we sing at Christmas when we celebrate the first coming of Jesus really is focused on the second coming of Jesus, when all the things that Jesus accomplished by His coming to Bethlehem will be fulfilled when He comes in great glory to the earth. Let’s see the evolution of this familiar carol and see if you can guess what carol has grown out of Psalm 98.

First, let’s read the psalm as it comes to us in the Scriptures: "O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

"Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.

"Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord. For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, and the peoples with equity."

Now listen to that same psalm as it was rendered in the hymnbooks in the days of Isaac Watts. It was probably sung a cappella because churches didn’t tolerate organs. The psalm is rhymed so that people could remember it and sing it. "O sing a new song to the Lord, for wonders he hath done; His right hand and his holy arm him victory hath won. The Lord God his salvation hath caused to be known; His justice in the heathen’s sight he openly hath shown.

"He mindful of his grace and truth to Isr’el’s house hath been; And the salvation of our God all ends of th’ earth have seen. Let all the earth unto the Lord send forth a joyful noise; Lift up your voice aloud to him, sing praises, and rejoice.

"With harp, with harp, and voice of psalms unto JEHOVAH sing; With trumpets, cornets, gladly sound before the Lord the King. Let seas and all their fullness roar, the world, and dwellers there; Let floods clap hands, and let the hills together joy declare

"Before the Lord; because he comes to judge the earth comes he; He’ll judge the world with righteousness, his folk with equity."

Have you guessed the carol?

It’s “Joy to the world.” If you listen to the words, it doesn’t have much to do with the baby in the manger. It has everything to do with the King of glory returning to earth in holiness and love. I think many folks like the baby in the manger. Somehow or other we feel we can control a baby. But to sing of a King who shall return to establish justice on the earth demands an allegiance to who the Babe in the manger really was.