Preached by Dr. Whytock at the United Reformed Church of PEI Sunday evening December 13, 2020. Psalm 98 speaks of the redemptive work of salvation to come. Christ has come, and he will come again. The end of missions is to see a worshipping people around the throne of glory. Here is a question for us: “Is my heart desirous that others come to a true knowledge of the Lord and worship him”?
Isaac Watts’ carol “Joy To The World” is based on Psalm 98 and Psalm 96. Christ has come. If you know him you know he has already stood trial in your place and he has removed the curse from you. Because of this, you can say “Joy to the world… He is coming”.
The sermon begins at the 28:26 mark.
Psalm 98 – ESV
1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him.
2 The Lord has made known his salvation;
he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who dwell in it!
8 Let the rivers clap their hands;
let the hills sing for joy together
9 before the Lord, for he comes
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.
Joy To The World — Isaac Watts
- 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 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…
