Joy to the World
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
--- Title Slide
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Intro:
Scripture Reading (“Please stand…”)
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.
The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
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 the 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.
---
Pray...
Intro:
Intro:
Isaac Watts...
“The Father of English Hymnody”
Basically, the one who began the movement of writing hymns in English.
It is reported that he had been complained about the songs
that were sung in churches since his late teens.
When his father grew tired of his complaints,
his father challenged him to write something better.
The complaints of Isaac Watts about singing in church went something like this...
"To see the dull indifference, the negligent and thoughtless air that sits upon the faces of a whole assembly, while the psalm is upon their lips, might even tempt a charitable observer to suspect the fervency of their inward religion."
Well into his writing career (1719),
he wrote Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament.
Watts paraphrased 138 psalms through the lens of their fulfillment
in the redemptive work of Christ.
He wrote, "They ought to be translated in such a manner as we have reason to believe David would have composed them if he had lived in our day,"
Among the hymns:
"Jesus Shall Reign Where'er the Sun" based on Psalm 72
"O God Our Help in Ages Past" based on Psalm 90
AND… "Joy to the World" based on Psalm 98
Song of Christmas:
So familiar that we don’t even notice what we are singing.
So our goal with this series during Advent...
Slow us down.
Help us hear the words we are singing.
I’ve said this before...
but some of the richest theology we sing is collected in our Christmas songs.
“Joy to the World”
Oddly enough, “Joy to the World” was not written as a Christmas song.
Since it speaks of the coming of the Lord...
It makes sense that we sing it at Christmas.
But let’s not miss that Jesus’ first coming is not the final focal point.
Sing for Joy
Sing joyous praise to our God
What word is repeated 3 times in verses 1-3?
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.
The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Repeated 3 times:
“Salvation”
Sing for Joy over...
God as Savior in the Past
God as Savior in the Past
(v. 1) “he HAS DONE marvelous things”
“his right hand and holy arm HAVE WORKED salvation”
(v. 2) “the Lord HAS MADE KNOWN his salvation”
“he HAS REVEALED his righteousness”
(v. 3) “he HAS REMEMBERED his steadfast love and faithfulness”
“all the ends of the earth HAVE SEEN the salvation of our God”
Past actions. Things already done.
Things already seen.
But what has God done in the past?
Brought about SALVATION for his people.
This is not a universal call though.
Notice the he is speaking to Israel...
his chosen people.
(v. 3) “He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. “
Verse 1
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Verse 2
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Salvation for His people
They cannot save themselves.
God works salvation for them.
Knowing that we are hopeless without God’s intervention...
Ought to make us “sing for joy”
Now, the second half of the verse brings in the whole world...
(v. 3b) “All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”
Earlier, “his righteousness revealed in the sight of the nations.”
These are saving actions by God for his people that the nations can see and witness.
Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness
Salvation - “he remembered his steadfast love”
“steadfast love” - hesed in Hebrew
“Loving-kindness”
Loyalty and Kindness
God’s covenant love for his people
Verse 4
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.
God as King in the Present
God as King in the Present
While (v. 1-3) were directed to Israel...
(v. 4-6) have a broader audience...
“all the earth”
Notice also the tense of the verbs… present commands.
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 the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
Jesus did not simply come as Savior...
He also came to earth as King.
He will rule and reign.
And it is in his Rule and Reign that humanity finds what we are seeking for.
“make a joyful noise”
“break into joyous song”
“sing praises”
“make a joyful noise BEFORE THE KING”
(back to main slide - “God as King in the Present”)
We typically don’t like the idea of kings...
b/c they are over us and tell us what to do.
But, have Jesus as King is the only way to real joy in this life.
Humanity - naturally thinks that joy is found is freedom from being ruled.
Yet, having limited knowledge and flawed reason....
make us terrible rulers of our own lives.
Verse 1
Let earth receive her King;
let ev’ry heart prepare him room
and heav’n and nature sing,
Verse 2
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
App. You will find true rest...
only as you submit to God as king of your life.
He made you
He sustains you
You are designed to find life under his rule and reign
God as Judge in the Future
God as Judge in the Future
Savior
King
Now, judge
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.
“judge”
“righteousness”
“The glories of His righteousness”
Verse 2
Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.
Verse 4
and heav’n and nature sing,
and heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing.
Verse 3
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 the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
Albert Bailey,
“The line “far as the curse is found” is left out of many hymnals, since there is no reference to this “curse” in the actual psalm. However, when seen through the eyes of the New Testament and Gospel message, the reference to Genesis 3:17-18 becomes quite clear.”
Genesis 3:17–18 (ESV)
… cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
“far as the curse is found”
“creation will be set free from its bondage to corruption”
“while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains,
repeat the sounding joy,”
“let heav’n and nature sing”
---
Close in Prayer
Close in Prayer
Closing Song:
Closing Song:
“Joy to the World”
“the Lord is come, let earth receive her king”
Benediction:
Benediction:
Extra Stuff:
Extra Stuff: