Joy to the World: A Reason To Rejoice!

Psalm 98 - Joy to the World: A Reason To Rejoice!

Isaac Watts was one of the great hymn writers in church history, and I guess nothing shows that better than the fact that he wrote one of his most famous hymns by accident. In 1719, Watts published a book of poems in which each poem was based on a psalm. But rather than just translate the original Old Testament texts, he adjusted them to refer more explicitly to the work of Jesus as it had been revealed in the New Testament.

One of those poems was an adaptation of Psalm 98. Watts interpreted this psalm as a celebration of Jesus’s role as King of both his church and the whole world. More than a century later, the second half of this poem was slightly adapted and set to music to give us what has become one of the most famous of all Christmas carols: Joy to the World.

Some of you may not know but this song was not originally intended to be a Christmas carol, but as a hymn of praise for the savior who was born and will one day rule over all creation. Watts’ desire was to lead us to rejoice in all that Jesus was and is and will be. The Psalm ends, “…sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.” Watts unapologetically interprets this as a reference to Christ. The theme of “Christ coming” made it an apt hymn to be sung at Christmastime, and it has since become a staple Christmas Carol as it declares the coming of the KING.

In Luke 2:8-20 we read where God announced the birth of His son to a group of lowly shepherds on a hillside late at night. Perhaps the reason God did this was to put on display that the joy Christ brings can overcome whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in.

We often base our happiness | joy on our circumstances; however, as with the shepherds, we will have some trouble finding joy in our lot in life. But we are given a reason to REJOICE!

The difference between Circumstantial Happiness and Eternal Joy is this:

When my happiness, satisfaction, pleasure is found in external, temporal, and fragile circumstances – money, health, people, family, jobs, lifestyle – when you buy a new car, get a new job, start a new relationship - your circumstances led to happiness – I hope. But when the new wears off, things get rough so goes the source of our happiness and the search begins for the new source.

But when your joy is in that that NEVER change and that are truly satisfying then our search can be over.

When our joy is rooted in the eternal truths of God it outlasts every circumstance of life. Regardless of what that person said, or the test results read, or the balance on your bank statement; there is a REASON FOR REJOICING. The difference between happiness and joy is rooted not in the What, but in the Who. Don't base your life on the What (circumstances), but on the Who. And-

1) the Who is-Jesus the King.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And Heaven and nature sing,

Psalm 98:4-6 tells says “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, With trumpets and the sound of a horn; Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.”

Rejoice because the King has come. This is good news, but it is often hard for us to see it as good news. Jesus is the benevolent, loving King (aka) ruler of my life. He has authority over our lives. He calls the shots. He has authority over all kings and rulers of this world. In our world of self-centrality, where we are the kings of our own lives, it is counteractive to REJOICE in Jesus being King. We tend to pursue independence (being in charge of our own lives). We think “there is freedom in not being under the rule of another?”

George MacDonald, author and preacher, said “The central conviction of those on their way to hell and in hell is “I am my own.” The shared conviction is the phrase “my life is MINE to live and I will not answer to anyone.” It is a conviction that leads to destruction all around us. Isn’t “I am my own” the conviction of much of the destruction caused in the world.

Failed marriage - I am my own. | Murders - I am my own. | Fractured families - I am my own. | Disobedience – I am my own. | Lying, cheating, backbiting, stealing – I am my own. | Wicked ways, sin, hatred – I am my own.

So Watts wrote “Let earth RECEIVE her KING” and “Let every HEART prepare Him ROOM”

We can Rejoice this season that the one who rightfully calls the shots was born.

Prepare Him room in your heart as you RECEIVE him as KING “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Eph. 3:17-19. Not only is the Who Jesus the King-

2) the Who is-Jesus the Savior.

Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns, Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy,

Psalm 98:7-8 “Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell in it; Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,” – The image given in the Psalm and in the song is of creation rejoicing over Jesus because He has saved them.”

When we think of salvation we think of it as a transaction, Jesus paid for my sins.

It very much is this, but it is also MUCH MORE. Jesus reversed the destruction sin caused. He reversed the power of sin over death. He reversed sin’s power over us. But He also reverse sin’s curse on the earth. Galatians 3:13 “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).”

Jesus’s miracles are not David Blaine magic tricks, but declarations of His saving work in all of creation.

That is why we, and all creation, rejoices over our Savior! The Who is Jesus the King and Jesus the Savior, and-

3) the Who is-Jesus the Redeemer.

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

Psalm 98:2-3 “The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.”

Not only has Jesus paid for our sins, but He has also redeemed us from it. Colossians 1:14 “in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” There is two parts here. Christ has done His part in dying for our sins, but we must accept the finished work of Christ. “Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9“confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Redemption looks back to Calvary, where Christ died and conquered sin through the resurrection, but it also looks forward to the freedom in which the redeemed stand. ‘You were bought with a price,’ Paul can say, ‘so glorify God in your body’ (1 Cor. 6:20). Precisely because they have been redeemed at such a cost believers must be God’s men. They must show in their lives that they are no longer caught up in the bondage from which they have been released and are exhorted to ‘stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free’ (Gal. 5:1, AV).

He fixes what was broken by sin. When we are redeemed, we become different people. When God redeemed Israel from slavery in Egypt, He made them a new nation and gave them a new land. The Christian has a new identity in Christ. No longer is the Christian a captive to sin and death. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Sin and sorrows don’t have to rule over us. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:1-4

This table we will come to in a moment speak to believers and unbelievers; saints and sinners. It speaks to Saints to keep on praising Jesus now. 1 Corinthians 11:26 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” It speaks to sinners and offers an invitation to all sinners to come to Jesus.

Let me give some more context. 1 Cor. 10:16. The word NKJV “communion,” ESV “participation,” NASB “sharing.” Participation means that we have a union with Christ. That is why he says the cup of blessing that we bless is not a participation in the blood of Christ. What is he talking about? Believers, his church. Have a union with Christ. We have this union that you know about, undoubtedly, where the spirit of God baptizes you into the body of Christ, Romans 8. It is real that you are connected to Christ. You are in union with him. You have this intimacy that is a communion between you and Christ.

The blessings of knowing and following Christ flow through our redeemed lives in Christ. So, I told you the the Who is Jesus the King, Jesus the Savior, and Jesus the Redeemer. But finally-

3) the Who is-Jesus the Hero.

He rules the world, with truth and grace; And makes the nations prove, The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love,

Psalm 98:1 “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.”

Christmas gives us the opportunity to proclaim victory as we know the true King, the rightful ruler is on His thrown.

No nation will conquer our mighty king. Psalm 2:6 “Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”

No political party should own our allegiance more than Him. Isaiah 9:6 “For a child is born to us. A son is given to us; and the government will be on his shoulders.”

One day every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is King “To the glories of His righteousness!” Philippians 2:10-11.

Jesus wins, He is the hero, and that is a reason to REJOICE!!!

The baby born in Bethlehem was born to die in our place. He went to the cross and received the wrath we deserved for our sin. He died to purchase the joy the angels announced at his birth. And three days later, he rose from the dead, the firstborn of all who would follow him.

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O’ Death, where is your sting? O’ grave, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:54-57

He appeared to his disciples and showed them how all of the Bible was pointing to him — the baby born in a manger, the preacher of good news, the Son of God crucified on the cross, the King who conquered the grave, the Joy of the world.

Is He the joy of your world? Is He you King, your Savior, your Redeemer, your Hero? If He is not, He can be.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:9-11

Joy to the World! The Lord is come! Prepare Him room in your heart this season.

Psalm 98:9 “For He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world, And the peoples with equity.”

One day He will return and complete what He started. What a glorious day that will be.

"Living he loved me, dying he saved me, buried he carry, my sins far a way. Rising he justified me, freedom me forever, one day he's coming back glorious day."

"Oh I want to see him, look upon his face, there to sing forever, of his saving grace. On the streets of glory, let me lift my voice. Cares all gone, home at last, forever to rejoice.

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