“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98:4 KJV)
My favorite Christmas carol is Joy To the World. I love to sing this beautiful worship song. Usually I also sing the first verse of Amazing Grace to its tune. Try it, you might enjoy it too.
Joy To the World was created by three very gifted people over a span of one hundred years. It began with the now famous words written by Isaac Watts who was inspired by the message of Psalm 98. “Sing a new song unto the Lord” (1). God’s works are marvelous! He revealed his salvation and righteousness (2). He did not forget his promises to Israel (3). Joy to the world! Shout it out! Shout it loud! (4)
Express your joy with every sort of musical instrument before your Lord and King (5-6). Even the earth can and should express its joy (7-8). Joy to the world because the Lord — the Judge — is coming with righteous judgment. And he will judge all people with fairness and equitable justice (9). It is easy to see what inspired Mr. Watts.
At about the time Watts wrote the words, composer George Frederick Handel was working on his famous Messiah. He began composing this famous musical after a night of prayer and completed all fifty-three of its numbers in twenty-three days.
Nearly a hundred years later, an American choir director, Lowell Mason adapted Handel’s music to Watt’s words, then named his arrangement Joy To the World. All about a baby born in a manger in 1st century Bethlehem. That baby became the one true joy for all people everywhere.
Like Isaac Watts, each of us ought to catch the Psalmist’s inspiration for expressing our joy. When we do, the echo of joy will resound around the world. The more who join in, the more we will feel the joy in the air!
Dear Father, thank you for the joy the Christ-child brought. Empower us with the joy of Christmas that we might bring Christ’s joy to our world. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today with joy to the world,