| Day 3 JOY TO THE WORLD |
| Today’s Reading: Psalm 98 Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! Psalm 98:4LISTEN ONLINE |
| “Joy to the world . . .” Meifang stopped mid-sentence and forced down a sob as painful memories of her mom flooded her mind. This time last year, her mother stood right next to her, singing the same song. But now she was gone, her life tragically cut short by an accident. For Meifang, Christmas would never be the same again. It was hard to celebrate when all she had was sorrow and grief. Perhaps, like Meifang, you’re feeling grief or sorrow this Christmas. How can you sing for joy when your heart is full of pain? Isaac Watts originally penned “Joy to the World” not as a Christmas carol but as a reminder of our future hope when Christ returns. It’s based on Psalm 98—a psalm that calls the earth to praise God for His love and faithfulness (v. 3). He came to save (v. 1), announce His victory, and reveal His righteousness (v. 2). And He’ll come again “to judge the earth” with righteousness and fairness (v. 9). These are great reasons for us to sing with joy. If this Christmas is tinged with sorrow and grief, hold on to the hope of Christ. Not only does He provide comfort now but He also assures us of our future hope. One day all sorrow and pain will cease when Jesus comes again and wipes every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4). Poh Fang Chia |
| What has Jesus made possible through His first coming that you can be joyous about? What is the joyous hope you can look forward to in His second coming? Heavenly Father, I sing for joy to You, for You have done wonderful things! |
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They Shall Call His Name Immanuel
| “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14 [ESV] Christmas is a time to reflect on all that the Lord has done for us by sending His Son to live among us. In our difficult days, when the enemy seems to have the upper hand—when sickness, fear, loneliness, or a restless heart threaten to overtake us, we can look back at a sign from God that stands as a beacon in the night. Isaiah Chapter 7 gives us a vision of that sign from God, when He told His people that a virgin would bring forth the Savior of the world, and it starts with a request for Ahaz, King of Judah. Ahaz was facing horrible odds against an enemy with very powerful armies, and the fate of God’s people looked dire. The Lord prompted him: “Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” Remarkably, Ahaz rejected it, saying, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” The pride of humanity was on display. Old Testament scholar, John Goldingay, explains this way: “The offer functions to expose Ahaz as a man who did not want to trust God even if he had the evidence.” And God, in all of his perfect glory, DOES give a sign to His people—a sign that thousands of years later is woven into the songs we sing each holiday, “See, the virgin will conceive, have a Son, and name him Immanuel.” When God’s people thought that all was lost and they would be destroyed, God delivered a message that Judah urgently needed, and it is one that we still need today. “Immanuel, God with us” is a proclamation to all His people. When God’s people thought that all was lost and they would be destroyed, God delivered a message that Judah urgently needed, and it is one that we still need today. How do we know we are not alone? How do we know that we will not be destroyed? Because a promise was given, and His name is Jesus. So, when we face difficulties in our lives, we can look back at that beacon in the night, the sign from God, and remember that He is Immanuel—God with us—through it all. Share this devotional with friends, family, and even your entire church by forwarding this email, or share on social media by clicking the links below. ShareTweet |
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When Isaac was born in 1674, his father was in jail for his approval of Nonconformist thought. Although young Isaac had a great deal of respect for his father’s convictions, he often thought of his mother’s days of nursing her children at the entrance to the jail. The boy Isaac showed his brilliance at a very young age. He learned Latin by age four, Greek at age nine, French at eleven, and Hebrew at thirteen. Many of the well-to-do citizens offered to educate him at Oxford or Cambridge, which would have prepared him for the Anglican ministry. Isaac would have none of it and at age sixteen traveled to London to continue his education at a prominent Nonconformist academy. After graduation in 1694, he spent two years at home where he began his hymn writing.
His most popular hymns are “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” and “Joy to the World!” Matthew Arnold, a nineteenth-century author, said, “’When I Survey the Wondrous Cross’ is the best hymn in the English language.” “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” has been given the title of England’s second national anthem and “Joy to the World” stands at the top of Christmas hymns.
In 1705, Watts published his first volume of original hymns and sacred poems. His next hymnal was Hymns and Spiritual Songs and was published in 1707. Many of the Dissenters did not approve of the hymnal. They believed only Psalms and not hymns should be sung in church. This led Watts to adapt the Psalms to Christian worship services. It was called The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament. It was his goal to give the Psalms a New Testament meaning and mode. Watts clarified his method with these words “Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear of God, I have often joined faith and love to it. Where he speaks of the pardon of sin through the mercies of God, I have added the merits of a Savior. Where he talks of sacrifice of Christ, the Lamb of God…Where he promises abundance of wealth, honor, and long life, I have changed some of these typical blessings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light by the gospel, and promised in the New Testament.”
With Watts’ health failing, he moved to the estate of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas and Lady Abney, to recuperate. His plans were to stay only a few weeks but spent the next thirty-six years as a guest there.
It is interesting to note that Watts never married. His sickness and unpleasant appearance caused his personal life to suffer. He was five feet tall, pale, skinny, and he had an oversized head. All of the pictures of him show him in a large gown with large folds. This is probably an effort by the artists to downplay his less than pleasing appearance. Elizabeth Singer, an avid reader of his book Hymns and Spiritual Songs thought Isaac Watts was her soulmate even though she only knew him through his writings. A meeting was arranged. When she saw his appearance, she refused his marriage proposal. This was as close as he ever came to being married.
Lowell Mason, composer of “Joy to the World, “was born and raised in Medfield, Massachusetts. As an adult, he worked in a dry goods store and a bank in Savannah, Georgia. His strong interest in music led him to study with Frederick L. Abel and write his own pieces. Later, as music leader at the Independent Presbyterian Church of Savannah, he led the church to set up the first Sunday School for Afro-American children in the United States.
In the last part of his life, he was the music director of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City. Here he changed American church music from professional choirs and orchestras to congregational singing and organ music.
first four notes of “Lift Up Your Heads” from Handel’s Messiah and the middle section of the carol (“and heaven and nature sing”), which can also be located in Messiah in the introduction of “Comfort Ye My People.”
Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Even Steven 