The Employment Available to All

[Continued from yesterday…article on Joy to the World]

Verse 2 continues the theme, telling us the response this great good news calls forth from us: “Let men their songs employ.” Not only do we sing this joy to the world, but we do so by living this joy in this world. If we do not live and proclaim this good news, the rocks, hills and plains will. “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40). We have a story that heaven and nature will sing, so let us sing our songs of redemption with them.

What is this good news of joy to the world? Again, a call and a pronouncement: “No more let sins and sorrows grow.” How can this be? Because the Lord has come to make His blessings known “far as the curse is found.” As I have said in other articles in this series, despite what TV and media may tout regarding the ‘generous human spirit’ roused by the season, I find the opposite to be true of me. The fact is, the Christmas season can bring out the worst in me, where both sins and sorrows are concerned. When I sing this song during the season, I sing with heartfelt joy the reality that sins and sorrows truly will cease because his blessings flow into the deep crevices of my heart where the curse can still be found.

The hymn closes with a final call – to remember that this world is not all there is, that the small kingdoms we create or live in, whether they be called America or some other nation, are just that – very small. Our rulers can rule with truth and grace in some of their finer moments, but a King has come and will come who not only rules with truth and grace at all times and for all eternity but also “makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness”! Stop and marvel at this. Throughout history, various rulers have tried to make the whole world bow before them and proclaim their glory and righteousness. But their plans have never worked, and more often, they have brought oppression and disaster. Our King, the Lord who has come, will one day make the nations prove the glories of his righteousness because his righteousness does not stop with righteousness but travels on and through the wonders of His love!