Friday, November 30, 2012

Joy to the World!

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre (harp), with the lyre (harp) and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the Lord, for He is coming. . . . 
Psalms 98:4-9 (NASB).

Isaac Watts found inspiration for his popular Christmas hymn "Joy to the World" from Psalm 98.  "Joy to the World" is often classified a Christmas hymn but this Old Testament psalm of praise anticipated the coming of God to rule His people. Jesus Christ fulfilled this anticipation when He came to save all people from their sins over 2000 years in Bethlehem (Psalm 98:2-3; Luke 2:10-14). 

Psalm 98 is a psalm of joy and victory because God through Jesus Christ is both now and forever  joy and glory to the world.  All those who wholeheartedly seek and obey God will experience that joy!  This psalm invites the whole earth to worship God (Psalms 98:4-6; see also Psalm 96:1). The coming reign of God on the earth is celebrated as an event of great joy. Therefore, all the people of the earth (Psalm 98:4–6) and all of nature (Psalm 98:7–9) are encouraged to join in joyful praise to God.  Joy to the world—the Lord has come! 

Reference
King James Version Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1988.
Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Thomas Nelson, 1991.
Life Application Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2005.
NLT Study Bible. Tyndale House Publishers, 2008.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989.

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