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December 9

JOY TO THE WORLD!
Isaac Watts, 1674–1748
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” (Luke 2:10)
As one of the most joyous of all Christmas hymns, this carol omits references to shepherds, angelic choruses, and wise men. It emphasizes instead the reverent but ecstatic joy that Christ’s birth brought to mankind. For centuries hearts had yearned for God to reveal Himself personally. At last it happened as “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The entire Advent season should be filled with solemn rejoicing as we contemplate anew God’s great gift, providing the means whereby sinful man might live eternally.
“Joy to the World” is a paraphrase of the last part of Psalm 98:
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise and rejoice and sing praise. Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for He cometh to judge the earth; with righteousness shall He judge the world, and the people with equity.
Although it was originally a song of rejoicing for Jehovah’s protection of His chosen people and the anticipation of the time when He would be the God of the whole earth, this psalm was intended by Watts to be a New Testament expression of praise. It exalts the salvation that began when God became incarnate as the Babe of Bethlehem who was destined to remove the curse of Adam’s fall. The text was originally titled “The Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom” when it first appeared in Watts’ hymnal of 1719. The music for this popular carol is thought to have been adapted by Lowell Mason, an American church musician, from some of the phrases used in parts of George Frederick Handel’s beloved oratorio, The Messiah, first performed in 1742.
Through the combined talents of an English literary genius of the 18th century, a German-born musical giant from the same period, and a 19th century American choir director and educator, another great hymn was born.
Joy to the world! the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; let ev’ry heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing.
Joy to the earth the Savior reigns. Let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains 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.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of His righteousness and wonders of His love.

    For Today: Genesis 3:17, 18; Psalm 98; Romans 5:20, 21

Express gratitude for our Savior’s birth with these words—

December 8

O COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL
Latin hymn, 18th century
English translation by Frederick Oakeley, 1802–1880
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about!” … (Luke 2:15, 20)
The songs of the Christmas season comprise some of the finest music known to man, and this hymn is certainly one of our universal favorites. It was used in Catholic churches before it became known to Protestants. Today it is sung by church groups around the world since it has been translated from its original Latin into more than 100 other languages. The vivid imagery of the carol seems to have meaning and appeal for all ages in every culture.
The original Latin text consisted of four stanzas. The first calls us to visualize anew the infant Jesus in Bethlehem’s stable. The second stanza is usually omitted in most hymnals, but it reminds us that the Christ-child is very God Himself:
God of God and Light of Light begotten, Lo, He abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, begotten, not created—O come, let us adore Him.
The next stanza pictures for us the exalted song of the angelic choir heard by the lowly shepherds. Then the final verse offers praise and adoration to the Word, our Lord, who was with the Father from the beginning of time.
For many years this hymn was known as an anonymous Latin hymn. Recent research, however, has revealed manuscripts that indicate that it was written in 1744 by an English layman named John Wade and set to music by him in much the same style as used today. The hymn first appeared in his collection, Cantus Diversi, published in England in 1751. One hundred years later the carol was translated into its present English form by an Anglican minister, Frederick Oakeley, who desired to use it for his congregation. The tune name, “Adeste Fideles,” is taken from the first words of the original Latin text, and translated literally means “be present or near, ye faithful.”
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; come and behold Him, born the King of angels:
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation; sing all ye bright hosts of heav’n above; glory to God, all glory in the highest:
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning; Jesus, to Thee be all glory giv’n; Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing:
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord.

    For Today: Matthew 2:1, 2; Luke 2:9–14; John 1:14

Ask God to help you and your family make this Christmas season the most spiritual one you have yet known. Worship Him—Christ, the Lord!

December 7

JOIN ALL THE GLORIOUS NAMES
Isaac Watts, 1674–1748
Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. (Psalm 72:19)
“Wisdom,” “love,” “power,” “prophet,” “priest,” “king,” “almighty Lord,” “conqueror,” “captain”—these are the names and titles used throughout the stanzas of this hymn to describe our Lord. But the conclusion is this: The most glorious names that either men or angels could devise would still be “too poor to speak His worth.” Words are limited in their ability to convey the deep feelings of the soul. We can and should extol our Lord with great hymns of praise such as this, especially during this joyful season. But beyond our verbal expressions there must be a life deeply devoted to His person and the extension of His kingdom.
“Join All the Glorious Names” was first published in 1707 in Isaac Watts’ Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book 1. This hymn is generally regarded as one of Isaac Watts’ finest among his more than 600 hymns and psalm paraphrases. These numerous works have earned him the title of the “father of English hymnody.”
A growing love relationship with our Lord and an appreciation of His worth should result in a life of praise and worship. We should also be led to respond in loving obedience with a willingness to say with this hymn writer—“Behold I sit in willing bonds beneath Thy feet.”
Join all the glorious names of wisdom, love and pow’r, that ever mortals knew, that angels ever bore: All are too poor to speak His worth, too poor to set my Savior forth.
Great Prophet of my God, my tongue would bless Thy name; by Thee the joyful news of our salvation came: The joyful news of sins forgiv’n, of hell subdued, and peace with heav’n.
My Savior and my Lord, my Conq’ror and my King, Thy scepter and Thy sword, Thy reigning grace I sing: Thine is the pow’r—behold I sit in willing bonds beneath Thy feet.
Now let my soul arise and tread the tempter down; my Captain leads me forth to conquest and a crown: A feeble saint shall win the day, tho death and hell obstruct the way.

    For Today: Exodus 20:7; Proverbs 18:10; Matthew 12:21; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 6:15

Earnestly try to show your love and devotion to Christ in some special way during this Christmas season. Worship Him even now by singing this hymn—

December 6

HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL
Words and Music by Audrey Mieir, 1916–
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)
More than 2,500 years ago, the prophet Isaiah told of One who would be the hope of mankind, the long awaited Messiah who would establish an eternal kingdom based on justice and righteousness. Isaiah’s important pronouncement told that this one would be a God-man: a child born—His humanity; a son given—His deity. The quintuplet of names ascribed to this One gives further insight into His character and ministry:
• Wonderful—He would be wonderful in what He would accomplish for the fallen human race.
• Counselor—He would be our guide through life, and our advocate before the heavenly Father.
• The Mighty God—He would be the God before whom every knee shall one day bow.
• The Everlasting Father—He would be the God of eternity.
• The Prince of Peace—He would be the one who would ultimately bring a true tranquility among all nations.
Audrey Mieir has been widely known for several decades as the composer and author of many fine gospel songs and choruses. “His Name Is Wonderful,” written in 1959, is one of her finest. She tells in her biography how the inspiration for this song occurred while she watched the annual Christmas program given at her Bethel Union Church in Duarte, California. After the usual procession of angels, shepherds, Mary and Joseph, the singing of “sleep in heavenly peace,” the pastor of the church suddenly exclaimed—“His Name Is Wonderful.” Audrey Mieir tells that she quickly grabbed her Bible, searched the concordance for names given to Jesus in the Scriptures, and soon composed this song, which has since been sung around the world:
His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord; He is the mighty King, Master of ev’rything; His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord; He’s the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, Almighty God is He; bow down before Him, love and adore Him; His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord.

    For Today: Psalm 72:19; Proverbs 18:10; 22:1; John 1:12; Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9,10

The more intimately we know the “child-Son,” the deeper grows our love and devotion for Him. Worship Him even now and throughout the day with the singing of this song—

December 5

THAT BEAUTIFUL NAME
Jean Perry, 1865–1935
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)
There is no name so sweet on earth, no name so sweet in heaven,
The name, before His wondrous birth, to Christ the Savior given.
—George W. Bethune
There are many wonderful names and titles ascribed to Christ throughout the Bible. A study of these titles is not only interesting but also important since each name reveals an insight into our Lord’s character. Ivor Powell, in his book Bible Names of Christ (Kregel Publications), discusses 80 different titles including:
Counselor— Isaiah 9:6
Emmanuel—Matthew 1:23
Helper—Hebrews 13:6
Messiah—Daniel 9:25
Judge—John 5:22
Rose of Sharon—Song of Solomon 2:1
Sun of Righteousness—Malachi 4:2
But the sweetest name of all to every believer is Jesus. When He was eight days old, Mary’s infant Son was circumcised and given the Hebrew name Joshua (Jesus in Greek), which literally means “the Lord saves.” And the Scriptures affirm without qualification that “there is no other name given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
“That Beautiful Name” first appeared in The Voice of Thanksgiving, No. 2, a hymnal published in 1916 especially for use at the Moody Bible Institute. The hymn has since found a place in the affections of Christian people everywhere.
I know of a Name, a beautiful Name, that angels brought down to earth; they whispered it low, one night long ago, to a maiden of lowly birth.
I know of a Name, a beautiful Name, that unto a Babe was giv’n; the stars glittered bright thruout that glad night, and angels praised God in heav’n.
The One of that Name my Savior became, my Savior of Calvary; my sins nailed Him there; my burdens He bare; He suffered all this for me.
I love that blest Name, that wonderful Name, made higher than all in heav’n; ’twas whispered, I know, in my heart long ago—to Jesus my life I’ve giv’n.
Chorus: That beautiful Name, that beautiful Name from sin has pow’r to free us! That beautiful Name, that wonderful Name, that matchless Name is Jesus

    For Today: Matthew 10:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 2:9–11; Hebrews 1:4

Raise your voice in praise and worship to the One who was given to save us from our sins. Sing as you go—