Christmas 2024: December 4

"Joy to the World" is probably one of the world's most familiar Christmas hymns of all, and it's certainly among the church's favorites. It is based on Psalm 98 - a majestic psalm of praise that anticipates the Lord's return, so "sing to YHWH a new song, for He has done wonderful things" (vs. 1). By "new song," the psalmist doesn't mean "new" as in "novel," "contemporary," or something recently composed. Rather, the idea is that because of God's magnificent gift of salvation, we are to sing continually without ceasing - our hearts overflowing with gratitude. Even so, our joy will not be realized until we see Him fully when He returns, and Psalm 98, just as today's hymn, looks beyond the advent of Christ at His birth to His second when He gloriously returns to establish His kingdom. That means even though we sing "Joy to the World" at Christmastime, it's really not a Christmas carol at all! We only began singing it as a Christmas hymn in the mid-19th century after a man named Lowell Mason put the words to the tune we're currently familiar with, which borrowed from two sections of Handel's "Messiah," about the birth of Christ. Even so, it is still fitting for us to sing at Christmas, considering that every reference to the birth of Christ in the NT looks to Christ's future work in His second advent (cf. Matt 1:21; Lk 1:32-33; 2:11, 34-35; Phil 2:7-11). Similarly, "Joy to the World" reflects on the work and ministry of Christ, past, present, and future.

It was originally written by Isaac Watts in 1719, who wrote many more of our favorite hymns we still sing today, including, "Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun," "Our God, Our Help in Ages Past," "When I survey the Wondrous Cross," "Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed," "How Sweet and Awful is the Place," and "I Sing the Mighty Power of God."

Just as Joy to the World points us to Christ's second advent, today's passage in Isaiah 60:19-22 is a glorious chapter filled with the hope that comes with the promise of the restoration of Israel - a time in which God will restore all things, finally culminating in the new heavens and new earth. God's glory will, at that time, illuminate His people, and His domain over His kingdom will bring about eternal peace. God's glory will even replace the constellations, including the sun and the moon; that is not necessarily to say there will be no constellations, but the brilliance of His majesty will be that great. In the context of Isaiah 60, these words were especially encouraging in a world filled with despair. Israel was in exile for its sin, but God's kingdom is everlasting and He will be the everlasting light and life to the world. His light will never go out, unlike the setting of the sun or the moon waning in eclipse.

It is truly a breathtaking vision in verses 19-20. Even more breathtaking, however, is the righteousness of God's people at that time, which will reflect the righteous holiness of God Himself. It is not, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21, a righteousness of their own doing, but because of God's redemptive work through the imputed righteousness of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, just as our justification comes from God alone, so does our eternal security and the inheritance that is ours through Christ. On that day, the curse will be lifted, and through God's power, everything we do will be abundantly blessed for His glory. In the meantime, God is still sovereign over history, even during times of duress and uncertainty, but we have been called to live while trusting His perfect wisdom, patiently trusting Him to the end of time when eternity begins. What a wonderful reality that we can't even comprehend. Joy to the world!