Episode 2.65

Every December, churches sing Joy to the World as if it were written for the manger. But historically—and theologically—that’s not quite true. In this episode, Michael and Zach explore the surprising origins of one of the most beloved Christmas hymns and ask a simple question: What is this song actually about?

Written by Isaac Watts and drawn primarily from Psalm 98, Joy to the World is not a nativity hymn but a declaration of kingship. It celebrates the Lord coming to reign, judge the world with righteousness, and restore creation—not the quiet birth of a child in Bethlehem. There are no shepherds, angels, or manger scenes here. Instead, the imagery is cosmic: seas roaring, fields rejoicing, nations witnessing salvation, and creation responding to the arrival of its King.

That doesn’t make Joy to the World unfit for Christmas—it makes it richer. Christmas marks the arrival of the King whose reign Psalm 98 anticipates. Advent looks not only backward to Christ’s first coming but forward to His return. The hymn pulls Christmas out of sentimentality and anchors it in hope: sin and sorrow will not reign forever, because Christ does.

In a season often focused on comfort and nostalgia, Joy to the World reminds believers that Christmas is not just about a baby—it’s about a throne. We sing it not because the world is already joyful, but because its King has come…and He’s coming again.

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