Day Seven

by Kyle Beshears

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.” -Psalm 98:1

Fun fact: it’s entirely possible that “Joy to the World” was not written to celebrate Christ’s incarnation. If you really pay attention to the lyrics, it’s a more fitting song about his second coming rather than his first.

It makes sense when you think about it. We sing “let earth receive her King,” but didn’t Jesus first come in “the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7)? And we proclaim, “no more let sins and sorrows grow,” but wasn’t Jesus first “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3)?

It makes even more sense when you consider the source of inspiration that the hymn’s author, Isaac Watts, drew from. In Psalm 98, the reader is invited to “sing to the LORD a new song” because our King has come to judge sin and deliver the world in love and faithfulness. But Christ only began to accomplish that mission on the cross and through his resurrection. The redemption Psalm 98 anticipates had been inaugurated but not culminated; it started but hasn’t been completed yet.

The earth has not yet received her King, although we know he is already preparing hearts to receive him. Sins and sorrows continued to grow—they have not yet ceased—although we know the enemy is already defeated.

So, why sing “Joy to the World” at Christmas? Because Christian joy is grounded in both a past reality and a future hope. It is backward-looking to a helpless kid

born in Bethlehem and forward-looking to a heralded king enthroned in glory. “All joy reminds,” said C.S. Lewis, and the joy of advent reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice in the past and his promises for the future.

Read Psalm 98. Talk with your family and friends about the dual direction of joy we celebrate during this season. Why does the birth of Christ give you joy? Why does the second coming of Christ give you joy?

PRAYER

Father, thank you for your Son. Thank you that he first came to redeem us from the power of sin, and thank you again that he will come again to rescue us from the presence of sin. Let our hearts enjoy the wonderful works you have already done for us, and let us joyfully hope for your wonderful promises yet to be fulfilled. Amen.