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Joy to the World!
Introduction:
Isaac Watts, the author of “Joy to the World,” has been called the
“greatest of all Christian hymn writers.” He wrote about 700 hymns
including “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” He wrote his first in
1692 at the age of 18 as a protest against what he thought was the
low quality of songs in the British songbooks.
At the age of 45, he sat under a favorite tree on the Abney
estate-property of the close friends with whom he lived and penned
the words of “Joy to the World.” It was first published in Watts’
1719 work, The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language
of the New Testament.
The composer of the tune was an American music educator and hymn
writer, Lowell Mason. This was in the late 1830’s. He also
composed the music for “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.”
Even though this song is considered a Christmas carol, Isaac Watts
never intended it to be. He based it on the last half of
Psalm 98
which celebrates God’s deliverance of His people.
Joy to the World by Isaac Watts
Published 1719
Joy to the world, the Lord is
come!
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Let earth receive her
King;
Nor thorns infest the ground;
Let every heart prepare Him
room,
He comes to make His blessings flow
And heav’n and nature sing,
Far as the curse is found,
And heav’n and nature
sing,
Far as the curse is found,
And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature
sing.
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
He rules the world with truth and grace,
Let men their songs employ;
And makes the nations prove
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
The glories of His righteousness,
Repeat the sounding joy,
And wonders of His love,
Repeat the sounding joy,
And wonders of His love,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding
joy.
And wonders, and wonders, of His love.
Text:
Psalm 98: 1-9
Body:
I.
Why We Should Praise God
(Verses
1-3)
·
God is truly marvelous and has delivered His people (Exodus
15:6-7)
and thus preserved the seed-line for the coming of the Messiah. (Galatians
3:16)
·
“Made known His salvation” – Listen to the words of John the
Baptist’s father Zacharias in
Luke 1:68-75.
Jesus would reveal God’s righteousness. (Romans
3:25-26)
II.
How to Praise God
(Verses
4-6)
·
Answer: according to His Word! The Israelites were given specific
directions: voice, harp, trumpets, horn. . Note the words of
Psalm 150.
·
Read King David’s instructions in
I Chronicles 16:1, 4-7.
·
God has likewise given specific directions to us today that live
under the New Covenant. (Ephesians
5:17-20, Colossians 3:15-17)
·
The instrument we are to praise God with is our voice. We are to
teach and admonish one another when we sing. We must sing with
grace in our hearts. Do all by His authority. Make melody in our
heart.
III.
The Need to Praise God
(Verses
7-9)
·
All should shout praises to the Lord. (Psalm
100)
·
One day He is coming to judge all the earth in righteousness. (Acts
17:31)
·
This judgment will be fair, just, impartial and according to truth.
(Romans
2:5-11, 16)
Conclusion:
It was a day of great joy for all when Christ was born. (Luke
2:10-11)
It will be a day of great joy for the faithful when He returns.
Bobby Stafford
December 30, 2012
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