WEEK TWO | DAY SEVEN | PSALM 98
The Lord is come! English minister, theologian and prolific hymn writer Isaac Watts penned this song in the early 1700s. Inspired by Psalm 98, this familiar hymn foretells and celebrates Christ’s birth and looks ahead to His return.
We are exhorted to “Receive your King!” “Prepare Him room!” “Employ your songs!” Heaven and all of creation are urged to “Sing!” and “Repeat the sounding joy.” As your heart overflows with worship, imagine all of creation—fields, rivers, mountains, trees, rocks—and one day all peoples joined together in a resounding chorus. Christ has come! Christ is coming!
JOY TO THE WORLD! THE LORD IS COME:
LET EARTH RECEIVE HER KING.
LET EVERY HEART PREPARE HIM ROOM,
AND HEAVEN AND NATURE SING …
JOY TO THE EARTH! THE SAVIOR REIGNS:
LET ALL THEIR SONGS EMPLOY,
WHILE FIELDS AND FLOODS, ROCKS, HILLS, AND PLAINS
REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY …
Advent calls us to exuberant worship and also invites us to reflect more deeply on what we are celebrating. We are grateful to have the privilege and freedom to openly celebrate, worship and proclaim the Good News. In Egypt, it’s only been 20 years since Christmas was declared a public holiday. Pray for Frontier Fellowship’s Egyptian partners as they proclaim the Good News this Christmas season (Egyptians celebrate on both December 25 and January 7). Many nations still do not enjoy religious freedom, but God’s people worship in whatever way possible and still call others to come and see! Keep them in your prayers today as you pray for your family, community, nation and the world.
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