- Biblical Insights
- Song & Lyrics
- Dr Victor Lee: Was there a grammatical error?
- Archdeacon Stephen Chan: New Christmas experience in Slim River
- Pr Philip Chieng: My family’s favourite carol
In this carol, we sing joyfully to the world and to the coming of the rightful King of the world. He is the One who made it and all who are in it. Every heart is urged to prepare and make room for Him so that He can be received gladly into our hearts. Nature will also join heaven in song. When Christ comes again, creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay.
We are invited to join heaven and nature in their jubilant song. The creation: land, rocks, hills and plains – will also join in the great chorus, where all of creation will sing praises to God.
This joy is continued when Christ removes the curse of sin from the human story. Genesis 3 spells out the effects of the curse in the human heart and on the earth. However, when Christ returns in glory, there will be no more sin and sorrow in human lives, and no more thorns on the ground. The curse will be removed far from us, and the blessings will flow relentlessly from the heart and hand of the God who loves us.
The final stanza gives us hope of how life would be in the eternal kingdom under the perfect rule of Christ. He will rule with “truth and grace”, a phrase that connects the song with Christ’s first coming.
Christmas does not only look back at the birth of Christ, but also towards His second coming. Both comings are connected and make each other meaningful. ‘Joy to the World’ helps us to understand this and urges us to break into joyful songs as we look back in faith and gratitude, and look forward with hope.
We are invited to join heaven and nature in their jubilant song. The creation: land, rocks, hills and plains – will also join in the great chorus, where all of creation will sing praises to God.
This joy is continued when Christ removes the curse of sin from the human story. Genesis 3 spells out the effects of the curse in the human heart and on the earth. However, when Christ returns in glory, there will be no more sin and sorrow in human lives, and no more thorns on the ground. The curse will be removed far from us, and the blessings will flow relentlessly from the heart and hand of the God who loves us.
The final stanza gives us hope of how life would be in the eternal kingdom under the perfect rule of Christ. He will rule with “truth and grace”, a phrase that connects the song with Christ’s first coming.
Christmas does not only look back at the birth of Christ, but also towards His second coming. Both comings are connected and make each other meaningful. ‘Joy to the World’ helps us to understand this and urges us to break into joyful songs as we look back in faith and gratitude, and look forward with hope.
Joy to the world! the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love
Dr Victor LeePresident
Bible College Malaysia
Bible College Malaysia
I first learnt this carol as part of the children’s choir in my home church, First Assembly of God Kuala Lumpur. At first, I did not fully understand the meaning of this carol. The focus was on getting the notes right as part of the tenor section. I also had to sing it in Mandarin, again without understanding the meaning of the words.
As I grew up, I came to appreciate the message of this carol, particularly the first line which sounds odd, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” At first, I thought there was a grammatical error with this line. Later I discover that it is old English (written in 1719 by Isaac Watts), emphasising the present (not past) aspect of the incarnation.
The carol speaks of the joy that filled the entire creation, including heaven and earth, for the coming of Jesus to break the curse of sins and death and restore peace and justice. It is the hope of creation manifested and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true King of the world.
Family and friends sing the carol as part of our worship of Jesus. It is always uplifting and reminds us of the hope we find in Christ. When I hear these carols in shopping malls, carolling or in church, it is a testimony of the grace of God, overflowing in this world. I just can’t help but sing along whenever I hear them, whether in the Church, at home, or in cafés.
It will be helpful to teach the next generation the meaning of the carols, rather than just singing them as just Christmas festive songs. These carols are proclamations of God’s redemptive works.
As I grew up, I came to appreciate the message of this carol, particularly the first line which sounds odd, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” At first, I thought there was a grammatical error with this line. Later I discover that it is old English (written in 1719 by Isaac Watts), emphasising the present (not past) aspect of the incarnation.
The carol speaks of the joy that filled the entire creation, including heaven and earth, for the coming of Jesus to break the curse of sins and death and restore peace and justice. It is the hope of creation manifested and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true King of the world.
Family and friends sing the carol as part of our worship of Jesus. It is always uplifting and reminds us of the hope we find in Christ. When I hear these carols in shopping malls, carolling or in church, it is a testimony of the grace of God, overflowing in this world. I just can’t help but sing along whenever I hear them, whether in the Church, at home, or in cafés.
It will be helpful to teach the next generation the meaning of the carols, rather than just singing them as just Christmas festive songs. These carols are proclamations of God’s redemptive works.
Archdeacon Stephen ChanThe Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia
In December 1986, a group of young people from the Malaysia Campus Crusade came to my hometown in Slim River. They went from house to house preaching about Jesus and invited villagers to Christmas celebrations.
On Christmas Day 1986, I walked into the church for the first time, and everything was new to me. They sang many Christmas carols, one of which was ‘Joy to the World’. This Christmas carol excited me, and the lyrics kept circling in my mind: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King… ”
I thought, what kind of God can make the whole earth receive Him as King? Many great dynasties and emperors have come and gone throughout history. Yet today, people are still singing songs about Jesus and his birth from two thousands years ago.
Jesus is the Redeemer of our world, and this Christmas, I pray that Christ’s salvation will bring grace and blessing to the world in challenging and difficult times.
On Christmas Day 1986, I walked into the church for the first time, and everything was new to me. They sang many Christmas carols, one of which was ‘Joy to the World’. This Christmas carol excited me, and the lyrics kept circling in my mind: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King… ”
I thought, what kind of God can make the whole earth receive Him as King? Many great dynasties and emperors have come and gone throughout history. Yet today, people are still singing songs about Jesus and his birth from two thousands years ago.
Jesus is the Redeemer of our world, and this Christmas, I pray that Christ’s salvation will bring grace and blessing to the world in challenging and difficult times.
Pr Philip ChiengSenior Pastor
Praise Baptist Centre KL
Praise Baptist Centre KL
As a young boy, one of the highlights I looked forward to each Christmas Eve was the Christmas carollers, dressed in white like angels making their way to my house. I was mesmerised by the exuberant and joyful singing of the song, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King…”
This lifted my spirit and reminded me that Lord Jesus has come, and that whoever repents and receives Him as his or her Saviour, will come into a unique relationship with Him, becoming a child of God.
The song also declared that our benevolent Saviour rules the earth with truth and grace, and that His love is full of wonders. That is why it is not just my favourite carol but also my family’s. I hear this song played in shopping malls during the Christmas season as well.
For the younger generation, they are more accustomed to hearing this song with an upbeat tempo like Mariah Carey or Boney M’s version. But hopefully they will take notice of the lyrics too, and receive the joy and hope it brings.
This lifted my spirit and reminded me that Lord Jesus has come, and that whoever repents and receives Him as his or her Saviour, will come into a unique relationship with Him, becoming a child of God.
The song also declared that our benevolent Saviour rules the earth with truth and grace, and that His love is full of wonders. That is why it is not just my favourite carol but also my family’s. I hear this song played in shopping malls during the Christmas season as well.
For the younger generation, they are more accustomed to hearing this song with an upbeat tempo like Mariah Carey or Boney M’s version. But hopefully they will take notice of the lyrics too, and receive the joy and hope it brings.
In this carol, we sing joyfully to the world and to the coming of the rightful King of the world. He is the One who made it and all who are in it. Every heart is urged to prepare and make room for Him so that He can be received gladly into our hearts. Nature will also join heaven in song. When Christ comes again, creation will be liberated from its bondage to decay.
We are invited to join heaven and nature in their jubilant song. The creation: land, rocks, hills and plains – will also join in the great chorus, where all of creation will sing praises to God.
This joy is continued when Christ removes the curse of sin from the human story. Genesis 3 spells out the effects of the curse in the human heart and on the earth. However, when Christ returns in glory, there will be no more sin and sorrow in human lives, and no more thorns on the ground. The curse will be removed far from us, and the blessings will flow relentlessly from the heart and hand of the God who loves us.
The final stanza gives us hope of how life would be in the eternal kingdom under the perfect rule of Christ. He will rule with “truth and grace”, a phrase that connects the song with Christ’s first coming.
Christmas does not only look back at the birth of Christ, but also towards His second coming. Both comings are connected and make each other meaningful. ‘Joy to the World’ helps us to understand this and urges us to break into joyful songs as we look back in faith and gratitude, and look forward with hope.
We are invited to join heaven and nature in their jubilant song. The creation: land, rocks, hills and plains – will also join in the great chorus, where all of creation will sing praises to God.
This joy is continued when Christ removes the curse of sin from the human story. Genesis 3 spells out the effects of the curse in the human heart and on the earth. However, when Christ returns in glory, there will be no more sin and sorrow in human lives, and no more thorns on the ground. The curse will be removed far from us, and the blessings will flow relentlessly from the heart and hand of the God who loves us.
The final stanza gives us hope of how life would be in the eternal kingdom under the perfect rule of Christ. He will rule with “truth and grace”, a phrase that connects the song with Christ’s first coming.
Christmas does not only look back at the birth of Christ, but also towards His second coming. Both comings are connected and make each other meaningful. ‘Joy to the World’ helps us to understand this and urges us to break into joyful songs as we look back in faith and gratitude, and look forward with hope.
Joy to the world! the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonder wonders of His love
Dr Victor LeePresident, Bible College Malaysia
I first learnt this carol as part of the children’s choir in my home church, First Assembly of God Kuala Lumpur. At first, I did not fully understand the meaning of this carol. The focus was on getting the notes right as part of the tenor section. I also had to sing it in Mandarin, again without understanding the meaning of the words.
As I grew up, I came to appreciate the message of this carol, particularly the first line which sounds odd, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” At first, I thought there was a grammatical error with this line. Later I discover that it is old English (written in 1719 by Isaac Watts), emphasising the present (not past) aspect of the incarnation.
The carol speaks of the joy that filled the entire creation, including heaven and earth, for the coming of Jesus to break the curse of sins and death and restore peace and justice. It is the hope of creation manifested and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true King of the world.
Family and friends sing the carol as part of our worship of Jesus. It is always uplifting and reminds us of the hope we find in Christ. When I hear these carols in shopping malls, carolling or in church, it is a testimony of the grace of God, overflowing in this world. I just can’t help but sing along whenever I hear them, whether in the Church, at home, or in cafés.
It will be helpful to teach the next generation the meaning of the carols, rather than just singing them as just Christmas festive songs. These carols are proclamations of God’s redemptive works.
As I grew up, I came to appreciate the message of this carol, particularly the first line which sounds odd, “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” At first, I thought there was a grammatical error with this line. Later I discover that it is old English (written in 1719 by Isaac Watts), emphasising the present (not past) aspect of the incarnation.
The carol speaks of the joy that filled the entire creation, including heaven and earth, for the coming of Jesus to break the curse of sins and death and restore peace and justice. It is the hope of creation manifested and fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true King of the world.
Family and friends sing the carol as part of our worship of Jesus. It is always uplifting and reminds us of the hope we find in Christ. When I hear these carols in shopping malls, carolling or in church, it is a testimony of the grace of God, overflowing in this world. I just can’t help but sing along whenever I hear them, whether in the Church, at home, or in cafés.
It will be helpful to teach the next generation the meaning of the carols, rather than just singing them as just Christmas festive songs. These carols are proclamations of God’s redemptive works.
Archdeacon Stephen ChanThe Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia
In December 1986, a group of young people from the Malaysia Campus Crusade came to my hometown in Slim River. They went from house to house preaching about Jesus and invited villagers to Christmas celebrations.
On Christmas Day 1986, I walked into the church for the first time, and everything was new to me. They sang many Christmas carols, one of which was ‘Joy to the World’. This Christmas carol excited me, and the lyrics kept circling in my mind: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King… ”
I thought, what kind of God can make the whole earth receive Him as King? Many great dynasties and emperors have come and gone throughout history. Yet today, people are still singing songs about Jesus and his birth from two thousands years ago.
Jesus is the Redeemer of our world, and this Christmas, I pray that Christ’s salvation will bring grace and blessing to the world in challenging and difficult times.
On Christmas Day 1986, I walked into the church for the first time, and everything was new to me. They sang many Christmas carols, one of which was ‘Joy to the World’. This Christmas carol excited me, and the lyrics kept circling in my mind: “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King… ”
I thought, what kind of God can make the whole earth receive Him as King? Many great dynasties and emperors have come and gone throughout history. Yet today, people are still singing songs about Jesus and his birth from two thousands years ago.
Jesus is the Redeemer of our world, and this Christmas, I pray that Christ’s salvation will bring grace and blessing to the world in challenging and difficult times.
Pr Philip ChiengSenior Pastor, Praise Baptist Centre KL
As a young boy, one of the highlights I looked forward to each Christmas Eve was the Christmas carollers, dressed in white like angels making their way to my house. I was mesmerised by the exuberant and joyful singing of the song, “Joy to the World, the Lord is come, let earth receive her King…”
This lifted my spirit and reminded me that Lord Jesus has come, and that whoever repents and receives Him as his or her Saviour, will come into a unique relationship with Him, becoming a child of God.
The song also declared that our benevolent Saviour rules the earth with truth and grace, and that His love is full of wonders. That is why it is not just my favourite carol but also my family’s. I hear this song played in shopping malls during the Christmas season as well.
For the younger generation, they are more accustomed to hearing this song with an upbeat tempo like Mariah Carey or Boney M’s version. But hopefully they will take notice of the lyrics too, and receive the joy and hope it brings.
This lifted my spirit and reminded me that Lord Jesus has come, and that whoever repents and receives Him as his or her Saviour, will come into a unique relationship with Him, becoming a child of God.
The song also declared that our benevolent Saviour rules the earth with truth and grace, and that His love is full of wonders. That is why it is not just my favourite carol but also my family’s. I hear this song played in shopping malls during the Christmas season as well.
For the younger generation, they are more accustomed to hearing this song with an upbeat tempo like Mariah Carey or Boney M’s version. But hopefully they will take notice of the lyrics too, and receive the joy and hope it brings.
Jesus, you are the joy of the world. I make room in my heart to receive You with gladness. I look forward to the day when there will be no more tears and no more death, for You will rule with truth and grace.
Songs of Christmas
Find out more about the history and biblical basis of 20 well-loved carols, and discover anew the wonders and joys of celebrating Christmas in song.