Joy to the earth the Savior reignsLet men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
Joy to the World 1719
By: Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)
Listen to this modern acapella version of this carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
Please make certain to enjoy the podcast below.
Here is podcast content always available as part of an extensive archive of resources. We have lots of tools and options designed to help you be Resonant! Check them out today and please consider becoming a Subscriber to support our mission of providing these tools to everyone with access to the internet!!
Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this carol in which we call the world to sing with joy, how will you find your place in the song? Let’s think about this.
Creations Response
We should be using our songs to declare that joy has come. The opening of this stanza is calling all mankind to lift their voices and offer songs to God. This second portion is describing the natural response of creation.
And just what parts of creation will be joining in? Every part. Though this list is short, it is fairly comprehensive.
- Fields, places where crops are grown, fertile soil
- Floods, all the surface of the water
- Rocks, all the places nothing can grow
- Hills, all the places that are not flat
- Plains, all the places that are flat
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together. Psalm 98:7-8 ESV
Our songs join those of every part of creation. This is not adding some new melody, as much as finding that which is woven into the very fiber of every created thing. Have you found that inmost melody? Look to God’s creation for your inspiration and ask the Spirit to help you receive it.
What a beautiful picture of creation offering praise to the Savior! The most common of all topographies are mentioned in this nearly comprehensive list. Yet, did you notice they are responding or rather adding their praise to ours?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments think about creation offering praise. If there songs are repeating ours that implies we are offering some. We get the song started, then creation follows. Make this your simple prayer “Spirit, help creation praise.”
Something Worth Repeating
Echo. That what this next line means. Earth, and all its topography, is echoing our joy. The repeat the joy we are sounding.
So are you sending any joy into the airwaves? Are you making a sound that could be echoed? Are you giving earth something to repeat?
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9 ESV
What does joy have to do with the judgment of God? We know His judgment will be done with righteousness and equity. Because we personally trust in the righteousness of Christ, we have peace knowing He has saved us from the wrath we deserve. Hallelujah! What a joy!
Our joy is prompted by the peace afforded in the Incarnation. Because the Savior reigns, and He is with us, we have joy. When was the last time you spent some time simply reflecting on the reason for our joy?
We sound out our joy and the rest of creation echoes. If that is indeed the case, we better make certain we are leading the way with our joyful praise. They cannot repeat our joy if we are not declaring it in the first place. Are you?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on the reason for our joy. Jesus arrival in the manger gave us a path to peace with God. Think about that. Then ask Jesus “Lord, help me declare my joy.“
Jesus, thank You for giving me a path to peace. May my joy this season be informed by your coming, and your reigning. Joy to the earth, help my praise sound forth. In Jesus name. Amen.
Repeatable Thinking!
Are these thoughts helping you to develop greater spiritual awareness? Sign-up in the form to the right above to get updates of new tools to help you be Resonant.
Podcast 47.2 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
…the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 ESV
Joy has come to the earth, because the Savior has arrived. But not only has he arrived, He has established His rule and authority over all. That is good news, because it gives Him the authority to redeem us, making all our wrong things right. That’s cause for joy!
Let men their songs employ
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day. Psalm 96:2 ESV
We use songs to tell of His redeeming work. Scripture commands it, and it is a powerful way to engage the soul as well as the mind with the wonderful truths of God. Once you have embraced this reality, it honestly becomes difficult not to make it known through song.
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together. Psalm 98:7-8 ESV
Our songs join those of every part of creation. This is not adding some new melody, as much as finding that which is woven into the very fiber of every created thing. Have you found that inmost melody? Look to God’s creation for your inspiration and ask the Spirit to help you receive it.
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity. Psalm 98:9 ESV
What does joy have to do with the judgment of God? We know His judgment will be done with righteousness and equity. Because we personally trust in the righteousness of Christ, we have peace knowing He has saved us from the wrath we deserve. Hallelujah! What a joy!
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the refrain
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Are You Giving Creation Something to Repeat? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains – https://pixabay.com/photos/river-fields-trees-meadows-hills-6066233/
Repeat repeat the sounding joy – https://pixabay.com/photos/colorado-echo-lake-mountain-1213206/
Leave a Reply