The Advent of Joy

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 8-11)

“Joy to the World” is Isaac Watts’ interpretation of Psalm 98, which says, “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth” (verse 4). I suspect as Isaac Watts studied Psalm 98, he pondered the real reason for shouting joyfully to the Lord. The Messiah has come to redeem us. The “good news of great joy” is that we have a Savior, and he is Christ the Lord!

The angels of Heaven are teaching us about joyful expression as they announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields. They were terrified, their fear quickly turned to joy. They ran to see the baby and then they ran to spread the news of great joy to the world.

C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” The angels direct the shepherds, and in a way to us as well, to declare the joy of a Savior to the world. Janet Stuart surmises: “To be a joy-bearer and a joy-giver says everything, for in our life, if one is joyful, it means that one is faithfully living for God, and that nothing else counts; and if one gives joy to others one is doing God’s work; with joy without and joy within, all is well . . . I can conceive no higher way.”

Today we have “Good News of Great Joy.” A Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. He is Christ Our Lord. He is Christ MY LORD!

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.

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.

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.

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 of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

(Isaac Watts, 1719)

Dr. Derek