Joy to the World is one of the more popular Christmas songs of the English language tradition. This hymn brings remembrance of the rich theology … biblical theology … of the incarnation to the hearer. All the earth responds in a new song of JOY at the arrival of God in the flesh. In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have In contrast, secular Christmas music that fills our airways and streaming services does not have the JOY that the rich hymns of the Christian faith convey. One favorite secular song from the 20th century Christmas tradition is the Jazz filled theme to the Charlie Brown Christmas. This song contains no lyrics but the jovial rhythm and head-bobbing beat convey a celebration … a time long gone with innocence and childhood fun. Other songs like “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” just do not seem to reflect the biblical witness of salvation … the good news of salvation and peace. But the ideas conveyed in the hymn, Joy to the World, express in simple ways the fulfillment of the covenant promises of God to his fallen creation. At the pinnacle of this fulfillment is God entering into humanity … taking upon himself what is not of himself … the sin and human dilemma of struggles and battles with thorns and thistles that came as the result of the first man and first woman’s sin. We will sing this wonderful hymn as our closing hymn of worship tonight. So in preparation for the corporate singing of this wonderful classic from Isaac Watts, let’s take a look at the biblical source for the proclamation of singing “JOY to the World”