Joy to the World

Verse 1

"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 Heaven, and nature sing."

The Gospel is "Good News," a message of joy (cf. Isaiah 51.11), and it is a message for the whole world: that is, for all nations. Jesus is a "light for revelation to the nations, and for glory to [God's] people Israel." (Luke 2.10-12,29-32)

We shouldn't think of "nations" in terms of geographical boundaries or governments, "nations" in the biblical sense refers to people groups distinguished by their heritage, customs or language. Our English word "ethnic" even derives from the Greek word "ethne" for nations or Gentiles. The Scriptures are clear (in both the Old & New Testaments) that Christ is King over all nations of men (e.g., Psalm 72.11,17; 86.9; Zechariah 8.20-23; Revelation 5.9,10).
Tell every people group that "the Lord is (i.e., has) come." God himself has come down to deliver his people (cf. Exodus 3.7,8). He has not merely sent help, but he has come down himself to save us (Isa 62.11; 59.15-20; Zec 9.9; Psa 50.1-6; Eze 34.11-16).

"Let earth receive her King." Christ comes as King over all things, being appointed by the Father (Psa 89.26,27; Eph 1.20-23). Our first father, Adam, was made king over the earth, but he fell from God's appointed position through sin, leaving Satan to usurp rule over the earth. But God will not let Satan remain in defiance of him, robbing his glory, holding what is rightfully his. So he promised a Man (Genesis 3.15) who would come & crush the usurper & deliver his people (1John 3.8).

And Christ came with power, conquering & taking authority over all things, and liberating his people from their captivity. He took authority over the elements, controlling the wind & waves. He took authority over the beasts, causing fish to leap into the nets & riding an unbroken donkey colt. He took authority over our diseases, curing them with a word or touch. He took authority over death, giving life to the dead with but a word. Then, he made a mockery of Satan & his agents, triumphing over them through his death & resurrection (Col 2.15). He fulfills God's command to take dominion over all things. Now the Man Christ Jesus sits on the throne of God, ruling all things, heaven & earth.

Therefore, let us sing with great joy for our conquering King has triumphed over our enemies, and delivered us from bondage. Let us praise our King who brings his righteous rule over heaven & earth, and to every nation of men. "Let...heaven & nature sing!"

Verse 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."

God is the God of joy! His joy is undimmed by sin. He hates evil, but nothing can rob him of his joy. And he delights in making others joyful; God overflows with joy (see Zephaniah 3.17).

Joy, not just to all people groups, but to the earth itself. Christ came to deliver his creation, also, from the curse of sin & death. God subjected the earth under bondage to sin & death (Romans 8.19-23), but he subjected it "in hope." Hope that it would one day be annihilated? No! Hope that it would one day be liberated. Therefore, the creation groans in anxious anticipation of Christ's Kingdom, when it will also be restored.

Therefore, the creation also rejoices in Christ the King, the reigning Savior. What a good & gracious King, who delivers us, his enemies, from the curse & makes everything new. Can we keep silent about such a Great Savior? Still, we cannot prevent the very rocks & trees from shouting his glory & dancing for joy!

Isaac Watts (1674-1748), author of "Joy to the World".

Verse 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."

Christ defeats our enemies: sin, death & Satan. And he delivers us from God's righteous curse. What is more, Christ brings God's blessing upon us. And God is not stingy with his blessing. "Where sin abounded, grace super-abounded." (Romans 5.20) Christ has fully obeyed the Father, even unto death; therefore, the Father has exalted him (Philippians 2.5-11), and given him the inheritance, which he passes on to us (Ephesians 4.8).

Satan led our first parents under the curse of God, but Christ came to destroy the works of Satan, thus undoing the curse. He is making all things new (Revelation 21.1-5). Satan brought sin; Christ brings righteousness that overcomes sin. Satan brought alienation from God & wrath; Christ brings reconciliation & peace that overcomes alienation & wrath. Christ brings life & joy that overcomes the sorrow & death Satan brought. As "far as the curse is found," so far does Christ's blessing flow, and even beyond. The darkness has passed, a new day dawns--the Day of Christ.

Away with the thorns, also, for Christ makes a new heavens & earth (2Pe 3.13), in which no unrighteous person may enter, where there will be no death or suffering, no more unfruitful labor nor bearing children unto sorrow (Isaiah 65.17-25; cf. Gen 3.16-19).

Verse 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."

TRUTH, GRACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS & LOVE! These are the blessings which Christ our King brings to all nations. Truth--he is faithful to his Father, faithful to his people, ruling in truth not with lies or deception, and delivering us from false gods, false hope, & false righteousness. Grace--he reigns by grace not by law, not dealing with us according to our sins, but according to his free grace, which he richly lavishes on us who deserve only his wrath. Righteousness--Christ rules in righteousness, bringing in a perfect & eternal righteousness, which more than satisfies God's justice, and which renders us perfectly righteous with him. Love--he reigns by love, love which embraces his enemies, love which gives 'til he has nothing left & then gives his life, love which is patient despite our failures, a love which will not let us go!
Jesus Christ WILL NOT BECOME King at some time in the future; he IS King now! "He rules the world with truth & grace." His Kingdom has invaded this fallen world under the usurper Satan, and is spreading until it fills the whole earth, every corner, every ethnic group, every language (Daniel 2.34,35,44,45).
Christ "makes the nations prove...his righteousness &...love." By "prove" he means in the old sense "to learn or find out by experience." According to his eternal plan, he is saving men from every nation, revealing his perfect righteousness (freely credited to them) & eternal love for them, and causing them to find it out & know it in their experience. The Gospel of this Christ, King & Savior, really is "Good News," and will capture the hearts of men from every tribe, language, people & nation.

So, as you sing "Joy to the World" this Christmas, remember that we're not singing the glories of a baby in a manger (though the incarnation of the Son of God is worth our rejoicing), but the glories of the Messiah, the Savior of the "world," meaning men from every people group on earth, and wonders of his blessings & Kingdom his brings upon us & the whole earth. "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!" (Philippians 4.4)