Is “Joy to the World” a Christmas song?

QUESTION:

When i’m singing the song “Joy to the World” during the Christmas season I noticed that the words don't exactly seem like they are talking about the Christ child.

ANSWER:

There is a reason that you are having a problem understanding the lyrics and making them fit with the actual story of Christ’s first coming. This is because this song is NOT about Christ’s first coming. The author of the song is referring to the coming Kingdom Christ refers to during his time on earth. Often is is referred to Christs 2nd coming. This period of time the Bible calls “The Kingdom”. This period of time will be a time when Christ himself dwells once again on earth ina physical location located on the present-day Temple mount. He will reign as king of the world for exactly 1000 years. Let’s take a look at the lyrics:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, 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
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders, wonders, of His love

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven and nature sing
(And Heaven and nature sing)
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

Isaac Watts was the original author in 1719. Inspired by the 98th Psalm, Isaac did not intend the song to be sung during Christmas by carolers.

As a personal reflection about the song and in it’s defense, I think it can still be a wonderful Christmas song. There cannot be a 2nd coming of Christ without the 1st! We celebrate the coming of the Christ child to ultimately be our suffering prophet in His death and resurrection. Only to now look forward in great anticipation to His great and mighty 2nd coming when He truly “rules the world with truth and grace”.