HYMN OF THEÂ MONTH:
Joy to the World!
by Isaac Watts 1674-1748
THE WONDROUS STORY: 2024 JOURNEY THROUGH FAVORITE HYMNS
Truth #7:Â We have a glorious future with Christ, our King.
Christmas to Advent
"Joy to the World" is one of the most beloved Christmas hymns, but it wasn’t originally written as a Christmas song!
Isaac Watts wrote the hymn in 1719 and based it on Psalm 98, a Scripture passage that celebrates Christ's second coming and the joy that His future reign on earth will bring.
Isaac Watts was a brilliant hymn writer who displayed a love of poetry from an early age.
One anecdote from his childhood is particularly telling:
During family devotions one evening, young Isaac saw a mouse climbing up the bell-pull and began to giggle.
When his father asked why he was laughing, Isaac replied, “There was a mouse for want of stairs, ran up a rope to say his prayers.”Â
When his father expressed frustration at the interruption, the boy replied, “O father, do some mercy take, and I will no more verses make.”Â
Watts grew up to write over 750 hymns and lead a hymn-singing revolution with the publication of his Psalter that translated the Psalms more loosely into everyday language.
Even though “Joy to the World” wasn’t originally intended to be a Christmas hymn, it is still quite fitting for this time of year because it beautifully reminds us of the hope Jesus’ birth first brought to the world, the joy His salvation still offers and the joy we have as we anticipate His return and future reign.
Every time we sing it, we join a chorus of believers across the ages, rejoicing in the hope and salvation found in Jesus.
Get Everything You Need to Study This Hymn!Â
Members get a 25+ page hymn study guide with stanza studies, activity pages and more for all ages. See all membership options here.
JOIN HERE FOR JUST $7!
Read & Relate
Joy to the World
By Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Joy to the world; the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;Â
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing.
Ps. 98:3-6; 1 Chron. 16:31; Isa. 25:9; Phil. 2:10
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns,
Let men their songs employ,
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy.
Ps. 98:7; Isa. 55:12; Luke 3:10-11; Ps. 16:11
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.
Gen. 3:17-18; Isa. 65:17; Isa. 35:1-2; Gal. 3:13
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love.
Ps. 98:9; John 1:17; Jer. 23:5; Heb. 1:8
