Few people know that Joy to the World the worlds most popular
Christmas song wasnt written for Christmas at all. Isaac Watts wrote
it in imitation of Psalm 98. That psalm has nothing to say about the
coming of the Messiah as a child; it is instead about the Messiah who
comes in glory, and righteousness, and victory over evil, to judge the
world and comfort the faithful. In other words, Isaac Watts meant Joy
to the World as a spiritual reflection on Christs soon-to-be,
expected, triumphant return to earth. This book explores this theme with
selected readings from elsewhere in the writings of Watts, as a way of
preparing our hearts for Christmas morning.