Carols of the Coming Part 1: Joy to the World
At Open Arms Community Church in Bradford, PA, Pastor Rich Dennison recently launched a powerful sermon series, Carols of the Coming. This series delves into the rich history and deeper meanings of beloved Christmas carols, connecting their timeless lyrics to scripture and faith. Kicking off with “Joy to the World,” Pastor Rich explored the carol’s profound ties to both the Advent season and the hope of Christ’s return.
Pastor Rich and Pastor Zoe kicked off the sermon by singing Joy to the World together.
Joy To The World By Isaac Watts
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 heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
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,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
The Origins of “Joy to the World”
Pastor Rich began by explaining the background of this iconic hymn. Written in 1719 by English minister and hymnist Isaac Watts, “Joy to the World” was initially a poem inspired by Psalm 98 and Genesis 3. It was not intended as a Christmas carol but as a celebration of Christ’s second coming.
Watts’s lyrics were part of his collection The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, reflecting his Christological interpretation of Old Testament texts. In this context, “Joy to the World” focuses not on the birth of Jesus but on His future reign over a restored creation, where sin and sorrow no longer exist.
Biblical Foundations
To help the congregation better understand the hymn’s scriptural basis, Pastor Rich read several key passages during his sermon.
Psalm 98
“Joy to the World” draws heavily from Psalm 98, a psalm that calls all creation to rejoice in the Lord’s coming. Pastor Rich read the entire psalm, pointing out how its themes align with the carol’s joyful anticipation:
Psalm 98 (NIV):
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.
The Lord has made his salvation known
and revealed his righteousness to the nations.
He has remembered his love
and his faithfulness to Israel;
all the ends of the earth
have seen the salvation of our God.
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
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;
let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Genesis 3:17-19
The line in “Joy to the World,” “Far as the curse is found,” connects directly to Genesis 3. Pastor Rich explained how this passage describes the curse placed on creation after Adam and Eve’s sin, a curse that Christ came to break:
Genesis 3:17-19 (NIV):
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it
all the days of your life.
It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”
Pastor Rich reflected on the weight of this passage, calling it one of the most heartbreaking moments in scripture. However, he reminded the congregation of the hope embedded within it—the promise of a Savior who would ultimately crush the serpent’s head and restore creation.
Advent: A Season of Hope and Preparation
The Advent season, as Rich reminded the congregation, is about preparing for both the celebration of Christ’s birth and the anticipation of His second coming. While the word “Advent” itself does not appear in scripture, its themes are woven throughout the Bible.
Pastor Rich called on everyone to reflect during this season, asking, “Are we ready?” Just as the lyrics of “Joy to the World” celebrate Christ’s future reign, the Advent season invites us to clear out spiritual clutter and make room for Him in our hearts.
Deeper Reading on Advent
Rich encouraged everyone to dig deeper into the meaning of Advent by exploring scripture references such as Isaiah 9, Luke 1-2, and Revelation 21. These passages highlight the anticipation of Christ’s coming, both in the context of His birth and His future reign.
A Word of Hope: We Know How the Story Ends
Pastor Rich Dennison’s message continued with a reminder of the ultimate hope embedded in the Advent season. While we face challenges and brokenness in this world, the promise of Jesus’ return assures us that the story doesn’t end here. Pastor Rich emphasized, “Our King will bring a final and lasting justice and joy to this world.”
Through the carol “Joy to the World,” we are called to celebrate this future reality: that Christ will one day rule the world with truth and grace, revealing the wonders of His great love. This is the profound message behind the words we sing.
The Promise of Revelation
Pastor Rich highlighted the powerful promise found in Revelation 1:7-8:
Revelation 1:7-8 (NIV):
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God,
“who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
This passage reminds us of Christ’s triumphant return—a moment that will transform all creation. Pastor Rich urged the congregation to live with this eternal perspective, embracing the hope and joy that Advent brings.
The Fulfillment of God’s Plan
Reflecting on God’s redemptive plan, Pastor Rich reminded us of His love and foresight. He said, “Even before you placed the curse all the way back into the beginning, you had a plan.” From Genesis to Revelation, the story of God’s relationship with humanity is one of redemption, culminating in the arrival of Jesus as our Savior and His promise to come again.
Pastor Rich emphasized how Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, reconciled us to God. He also reminded the congregation of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent as our guide and advocate until His return:
“Do not worry. I’m sending an advocate in my place until I come back.”
As Advent continues, the message remains clear: We rejoice not only in Jesus’ birth but also in the hope of His glorious return. With this assurance, we are called to live joyfully, lovingly, and with a heart set on spreading His light to a world in need.
