Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

 These words are likely very familiar to anyone who celebrates Christmas. Inspired by a poem written by English minister Isaac Watts over 300 years ago, it’s the most published Christmas carol of the 20^th century. While many people associate the song with Christmastime and the birth of Jesus, this popular tune is not about His first advent, but rather, the triumphant return of the Savior. Watts drew his inspiration from Psalm 98, particularly verses 4-9 which declare,

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Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and sound of melody!
With trumpets and the sound of the horn, make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.

How a Poem Became a Musical Hit

In 1719 Watts published a book of poems titled, The Psalms of David: Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship. It gained its notoriety more than a century later when a well-known composer named Lowell Mason made a catchy tune out of one of Watt’s poems. Taking inspiration from George Frideric Handel’s melodies in his musical masterpiece Messiah, Mason created a timeless classic that would bring joy to all who sang its jubilant verses. The song was released at Christmas and became an instant hit, henceforth associating the tune with the annual celebration of Jesus’s birth.

Though Isaac Watts was a prolific hymn writer, composing beloved pieces such as When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, and Our God, Our Help in Ages Past, he never knew his poem would become one of the most famous Christmas songs of all time. His original intent was for the words to get people excited about the glorious return (Second Coming) of Jesus. He imagined the entire world, as well as all of creation, singing with exhilarating joy as the King took His rightful place as ruler of the earth.

Watts believed that music should be exciting and filled with rich meaning. As a young boy he complained that church hymns lacked vitality and zest. His father challenged him to write better music that would capture the hearts of worshippers. In the poem that became Joy to the World, Watts envisioned people celebrating Christ’s return with great gusto and delight.

Celebrate His Birth and His Return

Putting all this into perspective, it’s amazing to realize that while every year we celebrate the miraculous birth of our King, we should also take time to proclaim his future return! We must fix our eyes on the truth that Jesus Christ will come back and rule over the entire world and bring everlasting peace (shalom).

Joy to the World reminds believers that not only will humans be set free from the rule of unjust leaders and corrupt governments, but even the animals and nature will be given a reprieve from the curse of death and decay that has covered the earth since the fall in the Garden of Eden. As Revelation 21:4 declares, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

In this world today, all of God’s creation suffers from pain and disorder. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:22-24,

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.

Thankfully the Holy Spirit resides inside all believers, giving them a foretaste of this coming restoration. Jesus has already made the down payment guaranteeing our heavenly reward!

Yes, the current world is becoming more difficult to live in. The newsfeeds are jam-packed with discouragement and negativity. War, injustice and corruption leave no nation untouched. Many of the world’s leaders live under the delusion that they will bring joy and salvation to the planet.

But guess what? The time is coming when all of this will fade away. Jesus has placed all things–all problems, under His feet.

Joy to the world! The Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing… 

 When Isaac Watts wrote his famous poem, he emphasized that the Lord is coming back. Have you made room in your heart for this amazing truth?

As we sing Joy to the World at Christmas, let’s not only remember His birth, but also His triumphant return! Shouldn’t we be shouting this from the rooftops? Shouldn’t we be singing and dancing in expectation?

Intercessors, I pray that you will receive marvelous joy in your heart this Christmas season. Whatever you are facing, and whatever comes in the future, JOY TO THE WORLD is a reality because Jesus Christ will one day rule over the earth. Hallelujah!

Lord Jesus, we look forward to the day when you come back to planet earth and restore this fallen world. Until then, use us as your hands and feet, helping us bring joy to the world by sharing the gospel.

As Christians how can we share the good news that Jesus is coming back? Are you full of joy and expectation for his return?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and former teacher who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, and her first children’s book, Hallelujah’s Great Ride, was released in September 2023. Photo Credit: Ch Photography on Unsplash.