Jimbo's Jots

It was never intended to be a song at Christmas. It was never really intended to be a song at all. Yet every December, you will hear many sing, Joy to the World. It was a “modern” reflection of Psalm 98:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
    burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
    with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
    shout for joy before the Lord, the King. (Psalm 98:4-6)

Growing tired of the psalms of the Church of Scotland, Issac Watts set out to compose hymns for the church that considered the Psalms through the lens of Jesus and the New Testament. He also was challenged by his father basically by saying, “if you can write something better, then do it!”

Isaac Watts was born in 1674. By the age of 4, he was learning Latin, age 6 Greek, age 11 French (conversing with refugee neighbors) and by age 13 Hebrew.

In 1702, he became the lead pastor of the Mark Lane Independent Church. Soon after his hiring, he began to experience many medical issues including psychiatric illness. He began to turn most of his work over to his assistant, finally resigning in 1712.

His medical issues were not just his only problem. He was a small, pale man and it took its toll on his personal life. He died in 1748.

As for the song Joy to the World, it was part of a collection of poems Watts had written and published in 1719. Nearly 100 years after it was written, a Boston music teacher, Lowell Mason, found the poem and put it to music. It has become one of the most loved Christmas hymns world wide.

Watts just wanted to share the reason to shout joyfully to the Lord – the Messiah has come to redeem his people. That is celebrated everyday! And in that we shout joyfully!

Be blessed and be a blessing!