Joy to the World, ELW 267
1 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.
2 Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
3 No more let sin and sorrow 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.
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.
Devotion
This favorite carol was composed by Isaac Watts (1674-1748), the father of English hymnody and the author of some 600 hymns.
Watts based this splendid carol on portions of Psalm 98 which rejoice in God’s faithful, providential care for His people. The Psalm helps us look to that day when the whole world will acknowledge the one true God.
Watts interprets Psalm 98 ‘Christocentrically,’ praising God for his mighty act of salvation in the gift of his son, Jesus. It was in Jesus that the curse, ushered in by the Fall, was eradicated. Watts insinuates: This is good news! This is reason for joy, love, song! Let earth receive her true King!
Prayer
Gracious Lord, grant us the supreme grace this day to trust, surrender and relinquish all, so that we might receive what you have in store for us and respond with gratitude. Amen.