MERRY CHRISTMAS – By Des Kelly
My grateful thanks to Chris Lawton,
on behalf of e’Lanka, for the story behind one of most famous Carols
sung during every Christmas that I can remember, from the year 1950 when I formed my own Carol party at the age of just 14, when I sang this beautiful Carol along with many others, after starting off at Lorensz Rd., Bambalapitiya, covering our local areas on foot, from dusk till dawn, for three nights
from the 22nd of December. This particular Carol was always one of our favourites, but I didn’t know the actual story behind the song, so my thanks and best wishes again, to Chris.
Desmond Kelly (Mr.Music)
(Editor-in-Chief) e’Lanka.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
This song was written over three centuries ago by Isaac Watts in 1719. Isaac Watts (17 July 1674 – 25 November 1748) was an English Congregational minister, hymn writer, theologian, and logician. He was a prolific and popular hymn writer and is credited with some 750 hymns. His works include “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”, Joy to the World, and “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past”. He is recognized as the “Godfather of English Hymnody”; many of his hymns remain in use today and have been translated into numerous languages. He was a well-known hymnwriter and theologian in England.
Christmas is a time of joy. A celebration of life, giving and good cheer. Yet beyond the festive imagery, the lights, sightings and food are the stories wrapped in song and rhyme.
Joy to the World is a popular carol that is a seasonal favourite. And yet it is a strange one as Joy to the World is based on a Psalm. Its lyrics are a celebration of joy and sovereignty of God and Jesus. In it the nations of the world are asked to rejoice as God’s faithfulness to the house of Israel has delivered salvation to earth. The four verse hymn is a description of Christ’s second coming and return to the world.
The first verse is a declaration of Christ’s return. It asks the world and all within it to ‘Receive her King’ and to be joyous and ‘Let every heart prepare Him room’ while the Heavens above and world below sing in celebration.
The second verse speaks of Christ’s reign on earth and how every living thing celebrates His return: ‘While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains’ echo his second coming.
Powerful and beautiful is the third verse ‘No more let sin and sorrows grow, Nor thorns infest the ground.’ It delves deeply into humanity’s transgressions and deep sadness. It shows us how merciful Christ is and offers every sinner blessings that flow.
The final and fourth verse is a build-up of Christ’s rule on earth. It shines light on His noble virtues both ‘truth’ and ‘grace’, His ‘righteousness’ intertwined with the ‘wonders of His love’.
This song is all about the fulfillment of what Christ came to do in the first place. Christmas is not only a time to look back at the grace accomplished in the past. Christmas is also a time to look forward to the grace that was accomplished for our future. When we sing these words we are proclaiming the ultimate joy to be revealed. This is why we can sing ”Joy to the World” at Christmas.
Lets join in the singing as we proclaim that “Jesus is the reason for the season”
