“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:6)

It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, this has been a year like none.  Covid is the first thing that comes to minds when I make this statement, but life has continued on with its plethora of other struggles.  I am writing this in the waning hours of Christmas day as many of you are waking to Christmas morning.  Without sharing all of the details here, it suffices to say this has been a Christmas like none I have experienced in my 52 years of life.  My blood has been at the point of boiling for much of the day as I have continued to look into the face of the unjust judicial system of the country I am residing in. And yet I have this song to share, “Joy to the World.”  How can I possibly sing a song about joy when injustice seems to be winning the day?  It is because today we celebrate the birth of a ruler.  Not a politician but a ruler.  He is the “King of kings and Lord of lords.”  I do not whitewash over the injustice around me, but I face it with this sure knowledge. This is not the way it is supposed to be.  This is not the way that it will always be.  I have read to the end of the book.  I know how the story ends.  One day injustice will be destroyed forever.  The King who was born will “rule the world with truth and grace” and he will make “the nations prove” that he is the ruler of all.  But here I wait in this fallen world and I sing “Joy to the World! The Lord has come” and he is coming again.  In that day, all wrongs will be made right and all injustices will cease.  Again and again I say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

JOY TO THE WORLD

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 world! the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, 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
Far as the curse is found
Far as, 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
And wonders of His love
And wonders and wonders of His love