Joy to the World
Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
The LORD has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
- Psalm 98:1-3
If you didn’t know, Psalm 98 (and part of Genesis 3) are the inspiration for the song Joy to the World.
"Joy to the World" was a hymn written in 1719 (Can you believe that?) by the English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts. It has become the most-published hymn associated with Christmas in North America, but here is the thing, it wasn’t a Christmas Hymn. We have just adapted it into one.
The hymn's lyrics are written about the second coming of Christ, not his birth.
However, the truth about Joy is the same regardless.
Joy sustains us, because Joy is supernatural. It comes from God, through the Spirit of God, and supernaturally sustains our souls in seasons of heartache, and sorrow, through trials and tribulations.
Joy is not a state of contentment, or a even an emotion, like happiness, but Joy, dare I say, exists regardless of your emotions or feelings, and Joy exists in spite of them.
Joy is rooted in God. Joy is the Spirit of God working. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and Joy leads to Hope
Romans 15:13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
So, yes, our lives may seem to be falling apart, specifically during the holidays, but because we placed our lives in the hands of the Father, specifically the Right Hand, Joy isn’t fleeting, and it can not be robbed from us. It remains with us, because God is with us.
So, as Psalm 98:4 says, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!”
Or
Joy to the World. The Lord has Come, and have Hope, because Jesus is returning.