Joy to the World
I’m sure I’m not the only person who when they think of that phrase hear it sung, or indeed have trouble not starting to sing the carol.
I like that this beloved hymn was written by a rebellious son, Isaac Watts, who complained to his father that current church music didn’t reflect the joy Christians should feel when singing praises. His father, also called Isaac Watts, challenged him to do something rather than just complain – always a better idea! Isaac wrote many hymns and continued to do so for the rest of his life.
Inspiration for the Hymn
The hymn was inspired by Psalm 98. It was published in 1719 in Watts’ niftily entitled collection; The Psalms of David: Imitated in the language of the New Testament, and applied to the Christian state and worship.
The carol is usually sung to the American composer Lowell Mason‘s 1848 arrangement of a tune attributed to George Frideric Handel. According to Wikipedia: As of December 2009, it was published in 1,387 hymnals in North America, according to the Dictionary of North American Hymnology.
Isaac wouldn’t have known the Passion Translation (2020) but I do like how they encourage everyone to go ahead, shout out loud with joy, break out of their box and let loose.
So go ahead, everyone, and shout out your praises with joy! Break out of the box and let loose with the most joyous sound of praise!
There are so many versions of Joy to the World – there are playlists of the different versions available.
But oddly they don’t have the one that was probably played the most in this house when our kids were small. We had at least two CDs of Muppet Christmas Carols and this was a favourite often played on repeat.
What is your favourite version?
Wendrie Heywood
MBS Founder
