HYMNS OF ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS 

Isaac Watts, in 1719, penned a poem based upon Psalm 98, especially drawing from verses 4 to 8: 

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,   
burst into jubilant song with music;   
make music to the LORD with the harp,   
with the harp and the sound of singing,   
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—   
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.   
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,   
the world, and all who live in it.   
Let the rivers clap their hands,   
let the mountains sing together for joy; 

Watts, according to the various articles I read, never intended for his poem to be set to music, let alone to become a much-loved hymn that has been sung in churches during Christmas for almost 175 years. The famous composer George Frideric Handel is given credit by many for first setting the poem to a musical score. The Lutheran Service Book credits both Handel and Lowell Mason with the hymn as it is sung today. 

You will note as you read through the verses of Psalm 98 above that the word “joy” is found three times and the last verse urges the reader of this psalm to “clap their hands” and the “mountains sing together for joy.” The words are triumphant calling attention to trumpets blasting, harps playing and voices of people singing. 

Last night in your Christmas Eve worship or today at the Christmas day service of celebration of Christ’s birth you will most likely sing this joy filled hymn. You and your fellow believers will sing it loudly and with great enthusiasm. Little children to older adults love this hymn because it calls forth the joy of the Shepherds, Magi and Christians throughout the ages to this very day because God sent His Son Jesus into the world to SAVE! 

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!   
Let earth receive her King;  
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room   
And heav’n and nature sing,  
And heav’n and nature sing,   
And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Joy to the World // LSB 387