Sing ‘Joy to the World’

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“…Repeat the sounding joy…”

Have you ever pondered these words? It’s hard for us to understand a song of joy when our weary ears and hearts are instead tuned to terror attacks, political doublespeak, fear … the “noise” that makes up our daily lives. But, joy? Not so much. 

Yet, this 300-year-old hymn speaks of divine joy – as if it’s reverberating through the universe like a holy pulsar. And according to Scripture, that’s exactly what’s happening. 

“The heavens are TELLING of the glory of God…” Psalm 19:1

“…the morning stars SANG together…” Job 38:7

“Thou hast made the dawn and the sunset to SHOUT for joy…” Psalm 65:8

“Let the rivers CLAP their hands, let the mountains SING together for joy.” Psalm 98:8

Could it be that a psalm of praise is forever being sung by everything God has made – except those creatures gifted with free will? Human beings may choose to remain silent, but creation cannot. Even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). 

Perhaps if we could “buy” joy, we’d better appreciate it. We like to spend money on things that bring us pleasure and excitement. But, joy isn’t something we can purchase or manufacture. We can’t even own it because it is the property of the Holy Spirit.

Joy is the voice of Hope. It’s at the very heart of creation, woven together with Faith and Love. This three-strand chord cannot be broken, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit cannot be separated.

We have long tried to possess joy apart from God, but that’s impossible. You can’t have joy without hope. You can’t have hope without faith. And, you can’t have faith without love.

This Christmas, let us be aware of the “great cloud of witnesses” awaiting our voice in the divine symphony … our God saves and He has come to us! Angels and saints, fields and forests, rocks and meadows, mountains and valleys, rivers and oceans, planets and stars are waiting for us to return, repent, and repeat the sounding joy!