Note: During the season of Advent, messages and lessons will include a unifying focus that coincides with the four themes of the Advent Sundays (hope, peace, love, and joy). Additionally, each week a Christmas song will be featured, which also incorporates the theme.
The focus of the Third week in Advent is Joy. This week is traditionally called “Gaudete Sunday” (from the Latin for “joy”), and the corresponding Advent wreath candle is usually rose colored (pink). Often the paraments or vestments in a church are pink, also. This provides a bit of contrast, a lighter color than the rest of the somber blue or purple of the rest of Advent, since joy is meant to be brighter than the contemplative season. Joy is a deep sense of delight in our Savior. As Christians, we know that we can have joy even in the midst of challenges, because we know that God is with us. There are many Christmas songs that express joy, but the suggestion here is perhaps the most obvious of them: “Joy to the World.” Not only is joy explicit in the title and words, but the tune and tempo provide a joyful mood.
History: “Joy to the World” was originally written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, who authored many well-known hymns. It was originally published in a collection called Psalms of David Imitated, under the heading “The Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom.” The song was based off of Psalm 98 and Genesis 3, and was actually not originally meant to be a Christmas carol but a reference to the Second Coming. The lyrics talk about the blessings of Jesus and how He rules the world and removes the curse of sin. The version that we normally sing today follows music that the words were set to in 1848 by Lowell Mason, who composed several familiar hymn tunes. There are also some parts of the tune that have been attributed to Handel, or are at least similar to is works.
Lyric Highlights: We associate this song with the joy of the Advent season, but viewing the lyrics through a Second Coming lens puts a new spin on things, making them even more joyful and hopeful. Psalm 98 calls us to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” (verse 4), because of His love and faithfulness. As we consider God’s faithfulness to send Jesus, we can be assured that His promise to return one day will be gloriously fulfilled.
- The first verse of the song follows the themes of Psalm 98 with the “And Heaven and nature sing” refrain. The Psalm describes how the trees, rivers, and seas all praise God with joy and singing. If nature praises God, we should do so too, and joyfully!
- The personification continues in verse two, which describes “fields and floods, rocks hills, and plains” repeating the joy of the Lord. This reminds us of Luke 19, where Jesus proclaims that even the stones would cry out if we don’t praise God.
- There are times when verse three is omitted from singing, as some consider it to be sorrowful or negative. However, when we look at it thinking about Christ’s coming and Genesis 3, it’s quite hopeful. Jesus comes to “make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.” The shame and consequence of sin cannot and will not last forever. He erases all of that.
- The final verse especially looks to the hope of the Second Coming. It speaks to how Jesus will have a global rule. All the nations will see and reflect on the “wonders of His love.” He will rule our hearts and all nations with His righteous glory.
Although “Joy to the World” says nothing about the virgin birth, shepherds’ visit, or other Christmas elements, it’s a magnificent Advent song when we think about the deeper meaning of Advent. The season is not only to celebrate how Jesus came to Earth, but to rejoice in the restoration of His Second Coming someday.
Using the song with students:
Advent is a great season to incorporate special hymns and their stories. Of course, younger students might not catch onto the thrill of history or lyric themes as much as older ones, but they can still learn and appreciate the basics of the story behind the carol, especially since this one is well-known and sun often. Sing a verse or two with them and talk about things that are joyful. You might also consider playing various versions of the song for students (of any age). For older students, look at the Psalm and Genesis passages that coincide with the song. Consider how it might be a hymn for other seasons, even though we typically associate it with Christmas.
However you choose to incorporate the song, enjoy the history and meaning behind it as a joyful part of your Advent celebration!