"Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth and sing for joy, yes, sing praises!"
(Psalm 98:4)
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing!
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and flocks,
rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy!
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 the curse is found!
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 of His love!
"Joy To The World"
(1719)
Isaac Watts
(1674-1748)
English congregational minister,
hymn writer, theologian, and logician.
Known as the "Father of English hymnody"
The Story Behind The Song
In the late 1600's most worship music sung in the churches in Europe
were Old Testament Psalms. A young man with an extraordinary talent
for writing hymns by the name of Isaac Watts thought that the songs sung
sounded stilted and unnatural, not to mention "atrocious" for worship services.
"To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that
sits upon the faces of the whole assembly, while the psalm is upon
their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the
fervency of their inward religion," he observed.
When a church deacon, who also happened to be his father,
challenged him, saying, "Give us something better young man."
Isaac, who loved to read and to study the Bible, went home
and penned his very first hymn.
In his later life, Isaac Watts took inspiration from the words of the
98th psalm, a declaration of praise and singing to the Lord, Who,
"has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly
shown in the sight of the nations."
(Psalm 98:2, Luke 2: 30, 31)
The end result was a song which reflects earth's rejoicing
over the birth of the Messiah, Who came to rule with true
justice, truth, and grace, and from Whom all blessings flow.
"Joy To The World" has since become one of the most
well-known and beloved Christmas carols of all time.
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