The Christmas Carol That Wasn’t Supposed to Be One
Joy to the World is in a 3-way tie for my all-time Christmas Carol.
Our Handbells concluded this weekend’s worship services with a powerful arrangement of it.
But Joy to the World wasn’t written to be a Christmas Carol at all.
Isaac Watts was by some accounts obsessed with Christ’s Second Coming. He wrote this song in anticipation of that Triumphal Return. He also wanted it be sung by literally everyone everywhere after it had occurred.
His primary source was Psalm 98, which reads in part like this —
Sing to the Lord a new song
The Lord has made salvation known
and revealed righteousness to all the nations
All the earth has seen the salvation of God
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music and shout for joy
Let the sea resound, and everything in it: the world, and all who live in it
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy
Question for us: Joy to the World has us sing Let every heart prepare Him room…what’s a way today we can do that?
joescheets 
By preparing Him room, we should just let go of everything hurt, and all our troubles. By preparing Him room, just fill it with love and hope and let Him in. Live our lives with understanding and compassion. And trusting in the Lord.
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Diana, you’re on to something here: most of us first have to clear some stuff outa the way, don’t we?
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Stop. Take time to remember what all the excitement should be about-God’s love for us shown in birth of Jesus! When we come to understand how much God loves us, there is joy in that no matter what our circumstances.
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Amen Janet, and WOW you and Dan amaze me!
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