Joy to the World
Isaac Watts wrote “Joy to the World” as a poetic paraphrase of the fulfillment of Psalm 98. It was not originally intended for Christmas, but as you will see, it is a very appropriate time for this hymn.
Monday, December 17 “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!”
Read Psalm 98 . As the psalm that this hymn is based upon, you will find many phrases in this hymn correlate closely to the psalm. According to the psalm, what has the Lord come to do?
Tuesday, December 18 ”And heav’n and nature sing”
Read Revelation 5. When the Lamb (Jesus) comes into the throne room of God to open the scroll, all heaven and earth erupt in praise. What’s the big deal?
Wednesday, December 19 “rocks, hills, and plains Repeat the sounding joy”
Read Luke 19:28-40 and Romans 8:19-22 Jesus lets the Pharisees know that if his disciples hadn’t praised him, the stones would cry out. Why are the stones even glad to see Jesus come?
Thursday, December 20 “Nor thorns infest the ground”
Read Isaiah 55. What kind of world does Isaiah envision? Watts even includes the end of our “sins and sorrows.” How is such a vision to become a reality?
Friday, December 21 “Far as the curse is found”
Read Genesis 3:17-19 and Revelation 22:1-5. Where is the curse found? What caused this curse? How does the curse touch your life? What happens to the curse in the end?
Saturday, December 22 “He rules the world in truth and grace”
Read John 1:14-17. Grace and truth are a powerful combination, especially when the Word becomes flesh. How does the grace and truth of Jesus rule your life? Where do you resist God’s grace and truth? Are you missing some “wonders of His love?”
Bethel Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN – bethelstpaul.com
LSB 387 Joy to the World
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders of His love.
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