WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.080 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.540 --> 00:00:09.519 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:15.419 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:22.620 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.159 Today's scripture reading is from the Psalms, chapter 98, verses 1 to 9, as printed in the liturgy. 00:00:37.020 --> 00:00:38.140 A reading from the Psalms. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.240 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. 00:00:42.759 --> 00:00:46.420 His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:52.359 The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 00:00:53.120 --> 00:00:56.359 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:00.039 All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:02.840 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:06.120 Burst into jubilant song with music. 00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:10.539 Make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:13.340 with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn. 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:16.099 Shout for joy before the Lord, the King. 00:01:16.840 --> 00:01:20.900 Let the sea resound and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. 00:01:21.539 --> 00:01:25.180 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy. 00:01:25.180 --> 00:01:29.280 Let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. 00:01:29.740 --> 00:01:32.900 He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. 00:01:33.360 --> 00:01:34.600 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:35.360 --> 00:01:36.400 Thanks be to God. 00:01:36.720 --> 00:01:38.360 Thank you, Maddie, for that scripture reading. 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:39.060 Good morning, everyone. 00:01:39.400 --> 00:01:40.100 My name is Andrew. 00:01:40.200 --> 00:01:41.180 I'm one of the pastors here. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:45.100 And will you join me in prayer as we come to listen to God's word? 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:50.900 Our Father, we ask that you would fill us with your joy. 00:01:50.900 --> 00:01:53.980 And not just us, but this world. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:01:56.460 And that that would be our heartbeat. 00:01:56.620 --> 00:01:57.460 That would be our song. 00:01:58.520 --> 00:01:59.440 Joy to the world. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.719 In Christ, in his name we pray. 00:02:02.240 --> 00:02:02.540 Amen. 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:07.860 So in case you missed the past two weeks, we've been doing this thing during Advent. 00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:14.520 We're going through some famous Christmas carols, and we're looking at the passages of scripture that have inspired them. 00:02:15.020 --> 00:02:19.319 And a big reason that we're doing this is because, in case you've also missed the past few months, 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:22.080 our church is in a season of transition, right? 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:26.420 We are without our past worship director of 14 years. 00:02:26.419 --> 00:02:35.159 We're in search of a new one, and Jonathan and I wanted to use this interim season to shape our culture of worship here at Christ Church, 00:02:35.239 --> 00:02:37.099 particularly in our singing. 00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:38.839 We want to be a singing church. 00:02:39.819 --> 00:02:43.899 And, you know, though it's been extra work for me as the interim worship director, 00:02:44.379 --> 00:02:47.679 and though it's made me feel quite vulnerable and self-conscious, 00:02:47.859 --> 00:02:51.099 having to lead all of you with my limited musical abilities, 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:58.439 I have to say it's actually been quite a pleasure and very rewarding engaging in this role for this season. 00:02:59.159 --> 00:03:05.819 Many of you may not know this, but if you asked me as a ninth grader or a tenth grader what my dream job was, 00:03:06.539 --> 00:03:09.439 I would have told you that I wanted to be a worship leader, like full time. 00:03:09.859 --> 00:03:13.359 I would have told you I wanted to be the Asian American Chris Tomlin, all right? 00:03:14.120 --> 00:03:18.599 And if you don't understand that joke, that just means that you were way cooler than me in high school, all right? 00:03:18.599 --> 00:03:22.680 I had a, we had a worship band, me and my buddies. 00:03:22.799 --> 00:03:24.819 It was called DHB, all right? 00:03:25.139 --> 00:03:28.259 And it stands for Don't Hold Back, all right? 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:33.919 Because we wanted the people to worship freely, to express themselves, not feel self-conscious. 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:38.539 And, you know, like, as embarrassing as it is for me to share that with you, 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:44.500 it's also a reminder to me of the way that God was shaping me, like, 20 years ago, 00:03:44.500 --> 00:03:49.759 for ministry, to pastor here at Christ Church in this particular season. 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:54.580 And, you know, as your pastor leading you in worship over these past few months, 00:03:54.639 --> 00:04:01.400 to be able to look out upon all of you, like, this congregation that God has entrusted to me, 00:04:02.139 --> 00:04:06.259 and to see you lift up your hearts, to see you lift up your hands in praise, 00:04:06.300 --> 00:04:08.599 it's been a special, special season to me. 00:04:08.599 --> 00:04:15.299 And I've often gotten, you know, choked up up here, like, even unable to sing when I'm supposed to sing, 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:21.000 because of how moving it is to watch you, the people of God, worship Him. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:27.219 I remember my first Sunday after Eric had left, my first Sunday leading worship here, 00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:31.199 and I'll never forget the joyful sights and sounds of that day. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:31.939 We were singing, 00:04:32.939 --> 00:04:55.039 We sang, 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:59.600 All glory be to Christ, our King, all glory be to Christ, His rule and reign will ever sing. 00:05:00.200 --> 00:05:02.160 All glory be to Christ. 00:05:02.300 --> 00:05:09.600 And, man, there is nothing, nothing more that a pastor could desire than to see his own flock, you. 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:15.000 A congregation for which I will one day give an account before God, 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:22.379 to see you give glory to Jesus Christ, right, with resolute reverence, jubilant joy. 00:05:22.379 --> 00:05:29.259 Anyway, you know, this season has actually reminded me that this is the reason why I wanted to be a pastor in the first place, actually. 00:05:29.740 --> 00:05:31.800 I mean, partly because of my limited musical abilities, 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:39.579 but mostly, mostly because as much as I loved, you know, using music to draw people into worship, 00:05:39.659 --> 00:05:41.579 to draw out the praise of God's people, 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:45.899 it dawned on me late in high school that, you know, it's not so much my music, 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:50.519 more than the music, it was God's truths that elicited His praise. 00:05:50.519 --> 00:05:54.939 Truths about who God is, what He's done, what He's doing, what He's going to do, 00:05:55.099 --> 00:05:59.599 especially for undeserving and often ungrateful people like you and me. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:04.519 That's what got me fired up about being a pastor and a preacher in the first place. 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:08.599 I wanted to lead people into worship, into deeper encounters with Christ. 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:11.819 I wanted to preach the good news of Jesus, the greatest story ever told, 00:06:11.919 --> 00:06:16.859 the one-of-kind message of God's costly yet beautifully redemptive grace. 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:19.980 And that's still what gets me out of bed today. 00:06:20.319 --> 00:06:24.439 Because full disclosure, every Sunday that I come up here and get behind this pulpit, 00:06:24.900 --> 00:06:26.220 I've got an agenda. I do. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:27.580 I've got an agenda. 00:06:28.120 --> 00:06:32.939 And it's not primarily to give you information, to make you laugh, to make you cry, 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:37.319 or to make you even feel like you're at peace, or to have some kind of joy or happiness. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:41.860 No, my primary objective, every time I get behind this pulpit, 00:06:41.860 --> 00:06:50.720 is that people here would taste and see something worth responding to in worship and in song. 00:06:51.660 --> 00:06:55.520 My agenda is to preach in such a way that all of you would lift up your heads, 00:06:56.080 --> 00:07:01.439 lift up your hearts, physically lift up your hands to the Lord in worship. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:02.220 That's my aim. 00:07:02.939 --> 00:07:04.580 That's my aim, to preach something, and not just anything, 00:07:04.579 --> 00:07:09.699 but to preach something so real, so incomparably good and glorious. 00:07:10.459 --> 00:07:15.339 Something so worth singing and shouting about at the top of our lungs that this place shakes. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.599 And our earnestness reverberates throughout the Bay Area and throughout the world. 00:07:21.099 --> 00:07:22.599 Even up to the heavens. 00:07:22.740 --> 00:07:24.799 This is my heart as your pastor. 00:07:25.079 --> 00:07:27.719 This is my heart for Christ Church East Bay. 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:34.660 That this truly would be a sacred place that exalts Christ, filled with joy. 00:07:37.280 --> 00:07:37.900 Thank you. 00:07:38.760 --> 00:07:43.240 Now, I understand that this is also a place where some of us aren't ready for that, 00:07:44.200 --> 00:07:48.800 aren't ready to exalt Christ, aren't ready to lift up our voices, lift up our hands. 00:07:49.140 --> 00:07:54.420 And I want you to know that this is also a safe place to examine and explore Christ at the same time. 00:07:54.420 --> 00:08:00.800 And so if, you know, you're here today and maybe singing is your least favorite part of worship here at Christ Church, 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:05.640 maybe it makes you feel uncomfortable to see grown men and women, like, closing their eyes, 00:08:06.040 --> 00:08:08.140 lifting up their hands, making a joyful noise, 00:08:08.280 --> 00:08:12.879 singing about their feelings of adoration toward this God that you're not even sure exists. 00:08:13.700 --> 00:08:14.319 That's you. 00:08:14.700 --> 00:08:19.600 Well, we want to personally thank you so much for stepping into such, like, an awkward place. 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:22.180 Like, if that's you, that's totally awkward that you've come here. 00:08:22.180 --> 00:08:25.639 I can totally see how it's uncomfortable to be in a place like this. 00:08:26.379 --> 00:08:33.039 Because, yeah, if you're not sure that God exists or if Jesus is worthy of all the glory and honor and praise that's in this world, 00:08:33.100 --> 00:08:37.340 then, yeah, totally, what we do here in church is super weird, all right? 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.560 And it makes complete sense that you'd feel that way. 00:08:41.700 --> 00:08:42.700 But you are here, right? 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:47.759 You are here for some reason, probably because you're open-minded enough 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:54.919 to at least entertain the possibilities that God might be real and that Jesus might be worthy. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:09:01.519 And so the question I have for you is if God isn't real and if Jesus isn't worthy, 00:09:02.700 --> 00:09:06.879 well, is there anything that you have found to be worth singing about? 00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.500 Like, for the rest of your life? 00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:15.159 Again, not just once in a while, like singing your alma mater's, you know, fight song at a football game, 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:20.779 but is there anything in your life that has so moved you that you cannot help but sing about it? 00:09:20.779 --> 00:09:24.399 And regularly, not just because it's got some nice tune, 00:09:24.519 --> 00:09:28.700 but you put it into your calendar to every Sunday come and gather with hundreds of other people 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:31.259 to sing the same things every single week, 00:09:31.660 --> 00:09:35.640 this great thing that's happened in your life through Jesus Christ. 00:09:37.100 --> 00:09:42.240 And is there any particular song that you find yourself humming repeatedly or returning to frequently? 00:09:42.680 --> 00:09:49.280 Do you have a song, do you have multiple songs that can express your uncontainable joy and hope and comfort 00:09:49.280 --> 00:09:51.920 even through the hardest moments of your life? 00:09:53.060 --> 00:09:56.420 And these questions aren't just for people who aren't Christians in this room. 00:09:56.419 --> 00:10:02.479 Whether you're a Christian or not, have we found anything worth singing joyfully about for the rest of our lives? 00:10:02.519 --> 00:10:03.159 That's the question. 00:10:04.199 --> 00:10:07.879 And if so, do we have the songs to adequately express ourselves? 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:12.219 Or to put it differently and tie it to, you know, our Christmas carol that we're looking at this morning, 00:10:12.299 --> 00:10:17.399 do we have a reason to sing joy into the world and unto the world? 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:22.599 Have we found something so joyful it makes our hearts sing? 00:10:22.600 --> 00:10:29.460 Like with unabashed gratitude and earnest invitation and bold confidence, 00:10:29.560 --> 00:10:34.360 do we have a song like that worth singing anew for hundreds and hundreds of years? 00:10:35.560 --> 00:10:39.800 This morning, as we take a magnifying glass to this famous Christmas carol, 00:10:40.200 --> 00:10:44.180 Joy to the World, and the biblical text that inspired it, Psalm 98, 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:50.259 what I hope to show you is that to sing joy to the world, to sing Psalm 98 for all they're worth, 00:10:51.159 --> 00:10:57.139 is to sing loud and bold songs of gratitude, invitation, and hope. 00:10:58.019 --> 00:11:00.019 Gratitude, invitation, and hope. 00:11:00.079 --> 00:11:02.500 That's what these songs place upon our lips. 00:11:02.859 --> 00:11:04.679 Gratitude, invitation, and hope. 00:11:04.759 --> 00:11:08.439 Or more specifically, commemorative gratitude for the past, 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:13.960 a commanding invitation for the present, and confident hope for the future. 00:11:14.640 --> 00:11:15.620 Those are our three points. 00:11:15.680 --> 00:11:16.620 So let's start with point number one. 00:11:16.860 --> 00:11:18.800 To sing joy to the world for all it's worth, 00:11:19.440 --> 00:11:23.040 we have to sing with commemorative gratitude for the past. 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:25.760 Now, Joy to the World was written in 1719. 00:11:25.820 --> 00:11:27.340 That's over 300 years ago, all right, 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:29.940 by this English minister named Isaac Watts, 00:11:29.980 --> 00:11:32.120 who is regarded as the father of English hymnody. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:34.820 He wrote, Our God, Our Help, in Ages Past. 00:11:34.820 --> 00:11:37.160 He wrote, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. 00:11:37.260 --> 00:11:39.060 Very, very famous hymn writer. 00:11:40.060 --> 00:11:41.360 But something you should know about him 00:11:41.360 --> 00:11:43.120 is that when he first started writing these hymns, 00:11:43.160 --> 00:11:44.460 like Joy to the World, 00:11:44.520 --> 00:11:47.740 he was actually being quite provocative and even disruptive. 00:11:48.020 --> 00:11:51.360 He was even accused by some of being a heretic. 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:54.460 You see, in Isaac Watts' church's tradition, 00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:56.000 they only sang psalms, 00:11:56.080 --> 00:11:58.140 and they pretty much just sang word for word 00:11:58.140 --> 00:12:00.560 in a kind of very wooden and rigid way. 00:12:00.700 --> 00:12:03.360 And so from his early years as a teenager, 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:04.700 Watts would complain to his dad, 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:05.639 who was also a pastor, 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:09.120 about how dry and monotonous and dispassionate 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:12.060 the congregational singing was in their church. 00:12:13.259 --> 00:12:14.279 And so his dad, you know, 00:12:14.300 --> 00:12:15.980 he got tired of hearing all these complaints, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:16.919 and he challenged him, like, 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:18.100 Okay, you do better then. 00:12:19.720 --> 00:12:22.379 And that's how we got Joy to the World, all right? 00:12:23.300 --> 00:12:24.800 And the result has been that 00:12:24.800 --> 00:12:27.259 while very few people can recite Psalm 98, 00:12:27.379 --> 00:12:28.500 Jonathan, do you know Psalm 98? 00:12:28.779 --> 00:12:29.720 I don't think so, man. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.759 I knew it, all right? 00:12:30.759 --> 00:12:33.919 Many English speakers, though, 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:37.259 can recite to you Joy to the World, right? 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:41.000 Now, at first, this opened up Isaac Watts 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.120 to a lot of criticism 00:12:42.120 --> 00:12:45.120 for supposedly playing fast and loose with Scripture. 00:12:46.139 --> 00:12:47.740 But, you know, when he penned these hymns, 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:50.919 he was actually doing exactly what this psalm 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.039 was telling him to do. 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:53.919 Look with me at Psalm 98, verse 1. 00:12:54.439 --> 00:12:55.679 Sing to the Lord, what? 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.179 A new song. 00:12:57.179 --> 00:13:01.219 And this doesn't mean stop singing the old, timeless psalms, 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:03.379 but it did mean to sing God's timeless truths 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.679 always with freshness. 00:13:06.699 --> 00:13:07.839 Always with freshness. 00:13:08.539 --> 00:13:10.979 For just as God's mercies are new every morning, 00:13:11.079 --> 00:13:11.919 they never go stale, 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:14.259 especially for those of us who depend on them daily, 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:17.179 so also must our songs be new each day, 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:18.699 even the same songs we sing. 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:23.079 As we experience God's goodness and grace anew each day, 00:13:23.080 --> 00:13:27.960 Watts wanted to give fresh expression to God's fresh mercies. 00:13:28.780 --> 00:13:31.440 That's what Joy to the World and Psalm 98 calls to do, 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:34.780 to sing with fresh, commemorative gratitude 00:13:34.780 --> 00:13:37.259 for all the kindness that God has lavished on us 00:13:37.259 --> 00:13:37.960 throughout our lives, 00:13:38.040 --> 00:13:39.900 acts of kindness and mercy and grace 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:42.639 that should never, never grow old to any of us. 00:13:43.639 --> 00:13:45.420 Now, look at the psalmist's reasons for worship 00:13:45.420 --> 00:13:46.340 in verses 1 to 3. 00:13:47.160 --> 00:13:48.800 Sing to the Lord a new song for, 00:13:49.920 --> 00:13:51.259 he has done marvelous things, 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:54.200 he has worked out and he has put his salvation on display 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:56.819 and he has remembered his chesed, 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:59.399 his steadfast love and faithfulness. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:02.620 When we worship, what are we doing? 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.980 We look to the past 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:07.819 and we remember the way that God has remembered us. 00:14:08.559 --> 00:14:09.620 That's what we're doing in worship. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:11.480 The ways that God has been faithful to us, 00:14:11.539 --> 00:14:13.319 the ways he's kept his covenant love 00:14:13.319 --> 00:14:14.519 and saved us from ourselves 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:16.259 and our addictions and our troubles 00:14:16.259 --> 00:14:18.919 and our oppressors in marvelous fashion. 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:22.439 For some of us, that's liberation from our alcohol 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:24.679 and drug and sex addictions 00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:28.000 or the transformation of certain relationships in our lives. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:30.360 For others of us, it's this newfound peace 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:32.240 we've experienced through the love, acceptance 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.000 and forgiveness of God. 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.519 When we sing joy to the world, 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.740 just as God's people of old sang Psalm 98, 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.779 we're to let our minds wander 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:44.519 to these various ways that he's shown up for us, 00:14:44.939 --> 00:14:46.459 that he's come into our lives. 00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:49.300 When we sing joy to the world, the Lord is come, 00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.680 we're to remember the ways he's broken into our lives, 00:14:53.740 --> 00:14:56.259 the ways he's come into our lives for our good. 00:14:57.080 --> 00:15:00.019 When we sing joy to the world, the Savior reigns, 00:15:00.080 --> 00:15:02.400 we're to celebrate and meditate upon the signs 00:15:02.400 --> 00:15:05.360 of his kingdom in our lives and all around us. 00:15:05.420 --> 00:15:07.639 We're to remember the things that formerly ruled 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:10.480 and dominated us individually and collectively 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.680 as a whole people, the systems and the structures 00:15:12.680 --> 00:15:15.759 that once oppressed us and all others in our world, 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:17.919 whether the stronghold of pornography on you 00:15:17.919 --> 00:15:21.159 as an individual or the stronghold of slavery 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.039 and supremacy on whole people groups in history. 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:28.480 The coming of Christ has had an undeniable, 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:31.179 transformative influence upon countless individuals 00:15:31.179 --> 00:15:34.039 and even upon all of world history. 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:37.219 Ever since the kingdom broke into history, 00:15:38.019 --> 00:15:41.439 it's been releasing people from strongholds. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:43.659 Like, honestly, come at me if you disagree, 00:15:43.980 --> 00:15:45.339 but I don't think you can deny 00:15:45.339 --> 00:15:49.620 that apart from the coming of Jesus Christ into history, 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:52.659 there is no abolitionist movement like we know it. 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:57.120 Nor is there any widespread consensus 00:15:57.120 --> 00:15:59.259 that many of us take for granted 00:15:59.259 --> 00:16:02.079 around human equality and inhuman dignity. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:07.400 The king has come and the world's never been the same. 00:16:08.700 --> 00:16:10.800 And for that, we can and we must sing 00:16:10.800 --> 00:16:13.259 with commemorative gratitude. 00:16:14.660 --> 00:16:16.600 Now, secondly, to sing joy to the world 00:16:16.600 --> 00:16:18.400 for all its worth, we also have to sing it 00:16:18.400 --> 00:16:21.080 as a present commanding invitation. 00:16:21.240 --> 00:16:22.000 All right, stick with me here. 00:16:22.160 --> 00:16:23.320 Present commanding invitation. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:25.280 If you look at this entire psalm, 00:16:25.960 --> 00:16:27.759 it is full of commands. 00:16:28.560 --> 00:16:30.720 All right, verse one, sing a new song. 00:16:30.720 --> 00:16:33.060 Verse four, shout for joy, all the earth. 00:16:33.580 --> 00:16:35.620 Burst into jubilant song with music. 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:37.040 Verses five and six, make music, 00:16:37.139 --> 00:16:38.540 and again, shout for joy. 00:16:38.620 --> 00:16:39.259 Full of commands. 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.040 But you also get the sense that these aren't just, 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:44.420 like, authoritative, domineering commands. 00:16:44.600 --> 00:16:45.680 Like, you know, when I tell my daughters, 00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:46.820 hurry up and finish your breakfast, 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:48.300 we gotta get to school, because I'm late. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:52.040 No, these aren't, like, power play commands. 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:55.279 At the same time, what they are 00:16:55.279 --> 00:16:57.879 is they're invitational imperatives. 00:16:59.059 --> 00:17:01.000 Like, yes, they're commanding imperatives, 00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:02.480 but there's also this sense that the psalmist 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:04.279 isn't just trying to tell you what to do, 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:07.259 but the psalmist is inviting you to join them 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:10.160 in something wonderful and life-giving. 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:13.000 Like, when I say, hey, come to my house, 00:17:13.220 --> 00:17:13.920 let's have dinner. 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:15.580 That's a command. 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.220 That's an imperative. 00:17:18.420 --> 00:17:19.200 And what is that? 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:19.960 It's an invitation. 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:23.019 It's an invitation into deeper togetherness 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:25.840 and relationship and shared experience. 00:17:26.820 --> 00:17:28.740 And man, I just want us to look at the earnestness 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:30.039 of this invitation. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:31.480 The psalmist is so earnest here, 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:33.440 so earnest that this command and invitation 00:17:33.440 --> 00:17:35.460 is extended to all the earth, 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.539 all the nations. 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.680 It's a radically inclusive invitation, 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.140 even as it's an invitation 00:17:43.140 --> 00:17:45.460 into a radically exclusive worship, right, 00:17:45.640 --> 00:17:46.820 of the Lord, Yahweh, 00:17:46.900 --> 00:17:47.820 the maker of heaven and earth, 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:48.460 the only king. 00:17:49.320 --> 00:17:51.040 And it's not just radically inclusive 00:17:51.040 --> 00:17:52.320 to every kind of person, 00:17:53.160 --> 00:17:55.460 but to every kind of creature as well. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.100 Like, the psalmist can't contain himself 00:17:58.100 --> 00:18:00.580 and the extensiveness of his invitations. 00:18:00.820 --> 00:18:02.580 Even inanimate creation 00:18:02.580 --> 00:18:05.020 is invited to join in praise 00:18:05.020 --> 00:18:06.660 and worship and celebration. 00:18:06.900 --> 00:18:08.940 Verse seven, let the sea resound, 00:18:09.060 --> 00:18:09.900 let it reverberate, 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:10.620 and not just the sea, 00:18:10.720 --> 00:18:11.420 but everything in it. 00:18:11.420 --> 00:18:13.259 That's dolphins and whales, 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.820 turtles and tilapia, 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:15.980 oysters and anemone, 00:18:16.360 --> 00:18:17.380 every coral reef, 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:19.100 every inch of seaweed, 00:18:19.580 --> 00:18:20.519 the whole world 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.920 and all who live in it, 00:18:22.259 --> 00:18:23.560 everything that has breath, 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:24.560 and even everything 00:18:24.560 --> 00:18:26.140 that doesn't have breath, 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:29.320 let it all praise the Lord. 00:18:30.320 --> 00:18:30.880 Verse eight, 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:32.800 let the rivers clap their hands, 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:34.360 let the mountains sing together 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.100 for joy. 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:36.080 The psalmist is saying, 00:18:36.300 --> 00:18:37.279 let all that is made 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:39.079 make much of its maker. 00:18:40.139 --> 00:18:41.319 Let all that is made 00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.759 make much of its maker. 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:45.639 And this is incredibly profound 00:18:45.639 --> 00:18:46.779 if you think about it, 00:18:46.839 --> 00:18:47.599 that all creation 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:50.680 is created for the glory of God. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.779 Every square inch of it, 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.279 even inanimate objects 00:18:53.879 --> 00:18:55.399 like rivers and mountains, 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:57.579 that they too can glorify 00:18:57.579 --> 00:18:58.619 and exalt God 00:18:58.619 --> 00:18:59.779 and sing his praise. 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:00.960 In fact, I would say, 00:19:01.379 --> 00:19:02.799 they're probably better at it 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.379 than we humans are, right? 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:06.859 Do you remember what Jesus said 00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:08.619 when he arrived in Jerusalem 00:19:08.619 --> 00:19:09.539 on Palm Sunday? 00:19:09.639 --> 00:19:10.579 People were praising him. 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.200 The Pharisees said, 00:19:11.500 --> 00:19:11.899 tell your people 00:19:11.899 --> 00:19:12.919 to stop praising you. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.259 And Jesus said, 00:19:14.700 --> 00:19:15.619 you can't contain 00:19:15.619 --> 00:19:16.740 the praise of God. 00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:19.119 Creation will not be silenced. 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:21.220 Even the stones will cry out. 00:19:22.579 --> 00:19:23.480 The stones will cry out. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.299 The stones worship. 00:19:24.399 --> 00:19:24.980 The stones are doing 00:19:24.980 --> 00:19:26.019 what they're meant to do. 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:27.000 Us humans, 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:27.980 we're the ones who don't. 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.200 We're the ones who often 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:30.419 silence ourselves 00:19:30.419 --> 00:19:31.139 or each other. 00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.440 We're the ones who often 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.480 withhold our worship. 00:19:33.660 --> 00:19:34.360 We fail to submit 00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:35.620 to God's laws 00:19:35.620 --> 00:19:38.140 in ways that rocks and trees 00:19:38.140 --> 00:19:39.380 and mountains and oceans 00:19:39.380 --> 00:19:41.100 would never dare to disobey. 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:44.200 It's crazy but true 00:19:44.200 --> 00:19:46.059 to think that while humans 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:47.759 are far more glorious creatures 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.880 than rocks, 00:19:49.440 --> 00:19:50.580 actually rocks have been 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:51.559 far more faithful 00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:53.900 to God's intention for them 00:19:53.900 --> 00:19:55.500 than humans have been 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:58.000 for God's intentions for them. 00:19:59.180 --> 00:20:00.440 And this is what the psalmist 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:01.120 is recognizing. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:03.039 As he commands 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:04.179 and invites all people 00:20:04.179 --> 00:20:04.919 and all nature 00:20:04.919 --> 00:20:06.639 to sing and shout God's praise. 00:20:07.419 --> 00:20:08.359 And this is what we do 00:20:08.359 --> 00:20:09.339 when we sing, 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:12.399 let earth receive her king. 00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:14.779 Let earth receive her king. 00:20:14.879 --> 00:20:15.639 Like all of it, 00:20:15.759 --> 00:20:16.500 every square inch of it, 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:18.159 let earth receive her king 00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:19.219 and especially humanity 00:20:19.219 --> 00:20:20.819 made in the image of God, 00:20:20.899 --> 00:20:21.919 made to glorify God 00:20:21.919 --> 00:20:23.239 and enjoy him forever. 00:20:23.599 --> 00:20:24.559 Let us not be like 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:26.599 that little town of Bethlehem 00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.539 that had no room 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.479 for their king. 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:30.460 but let every heart 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:32.339 prepare him room. 00:20:33.160 --> 00:20:34.980 And let heaven and nature sing, 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.079 let all of nature 00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:38.120 join the songs of heaven 00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.920 in worshiping God, 00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:41.160 our king. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:42.980 When we sing, 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.259 let all their songs employ. 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.920 Fields and floods, 00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.539 rocks, hills, 00:20:46.660 --> 00:20:47.240 and plains, 00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.680 let them repeat 00:20:48.680 --> 00:20:49.740 the sounding joy. 00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:51.319 We are commanding the cosmos 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:53.659 to do what it was made to do. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:55.939 We're inviting the inanimate 00:20:55.939 --> 00:20:57.059 to join us 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:58.659 in animated worship. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:00.019 And man, 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:01.119 if you stop to think about 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:01.899 that for a second, 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.159 man, 00:21:03.220 --> 00:21:03.460 it's like, 00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.480 who are we 00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.819 to invite 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:07.379 all the rest of creation 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:09.319 to join us in worship? 00:21:10.139 --> 00:21:10.379 You know, 00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:10.639 like, 00:21:10.919 --> 00:21:12.220 what authority do I have 00:21:12.220 --> 00:21:12.980 to tell a mountain 00:21:12.980 --> 00:21:14.539 to worship, 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.259 to tell the sea 00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:16.659 to worship, right? 00:21:17.040 --> 00:21:17.940 These massive, 00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:18.840 majestic, 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:20.279 uncontrollable forces 00:21:20.279 --> 00:21:20.779 of nature 00:21:20.779 --> 00:21:21.779 that remind us 00:21:21.779 --> 00:21:22.519 of how small 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:23.480 and insignificant 00:21:23.480 --> 00:21:25.060 and temporary we are. 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:26.560 But remember what Jesus said. 00:21:27.560 --> 00:21:27.779 He said, 00:21:27.860 --> 00:21:28.600 if we have faith, 00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.460 we can tell the mountain 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:31.759 to be thrown 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.840 into the sea 00:21:32.840 --> 00:21:34.380 and it will be done. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.759 So how much more 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:37.700 will God be pleased 00:21:37.700 --> 00:21:38.880 to draw a song 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:39.700 out of the lips 00:21:39.700 --> 00:21:40.400 of a mountain 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.519 if we command them 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:42.480 and invite them 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:43.380 to do so 00:21:43.380 --> 00:21:44.180 in his name? 00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:46.240 I mean, 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.200 is this not what 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.099 God meant for us 00:21:48.099 --> 00:21:49.480 to do when he made us 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.220 in his image 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:51.220 and he gave us dominion 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.000 over the earth 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:53.140 to exercise his authority 00:21:53.140 --> 00:21:53.980 upon it? 00:21:55.400 --> 00:21:55.579 See, 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.839 Psalm 98, 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:58.120 to sing Psalm 98, 00:21:58.220 --> 00:21:59.220 to sing Joy to the World 00:21:59.220 --> 00:22:00.680 is to step into 00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:01.960 our God-given 00:22:01.960 --> 00:22:03.400 authority and faith. 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:05.440 It's to unashamedly 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.700 call all of creation 00:22:06.700 --> 00:22:08.039 to do 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:08.900 what it was meant 00:22:08.900 --> 00:22:09.519 to do. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:11.059 And not in an oppressive way 00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:13.359 but in an invitational way. 00:22:13.460 --> 00:22:14.920 When we sing Joy to the World, 00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.120 we're evangelists. 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.000 We're missionaries. 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:20.339 When we make a joyful noise 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:21.059 in this place, 00:22:21.160 --> 00:22:22.420 we are inviting the world 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.440 to come join us 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.000 in our worship. 00:22:24.120 --> 00:22:24.579 And did you know 00:22:24.579 --> 00:22:25.180 that that's actually 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.799 happened here? 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.920 People walked in 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:28.539 from cedar and walnut 00:22:28.539 --> 00:22:30.440 in the middle of our singing, 00:22:30.920 --> 00:22:31.599 in the middle of us 00:22:31.599 --> 00:22:32.500 declaring to the world 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.900 that God is our king 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.720 and that there is nothing 00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:36.420 greater than his 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.279 steadfast covenant love. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.620 People have been drawn in 00:22:38.620 --> 00:22:39.680 because our singing 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.480 was always meant 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:41.660 to be an invitation 00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:42.660 to each other, 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.480 to our neighborhood, 00:22:43.640 --> 00:22:44.420 to the world, 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:46.740 to join in our celebration. 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.380 Like, think about that. 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:50.039 It was you that I was 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.680 thinking about, Chris. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.820 You're the one who came in, right? 00:22:52.279 --> 00:22:52.680 Amen! 00:22:53.140 --> 00:22:54.120 We're glad you're here. 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.840 But think about that. 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:58.639 If Psalm 98 00:22:58.639 --> 00:23:00.279 and joy to the world 00:23:00.279 --> 00:23:01.359 place on our lips 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:03.279 a commanding invitation 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:04.359 to the mountains 00:23:04.359 --> 00:23:05.079 and to the sea, 00:23:05.199 --> 00:23:06.019 imploring them, 00:23:06.259 --> 00:23:06.939 begging them 00:23:06.939 --> 00:23:08.220 to worship our God 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.899 with us, 00:23:09.959 --> 00:23:10.919 how much more 00:23:10.919 --> 00:23:11.599 should we extend 00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:13.539 this commanding invitation 00:23:13.539 --> 00:23:14.619 to the people 00:23:14.619 --> 00:23:16.220 in our lives 00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:17.539 who have yet 00:23:17.539 --> 00:23:19.019 to join our song? 00:23:20.259 --> 00:23:21.240 People who are living 00:23:21.240 --> 00:23:22.199 apart from God 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.580 and pursuing 00:23:23.580 --> 00:23:25.200 other lesser joys 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.819 than Jesus. 00:23:27.960 --> 00:23:29.180 People who can't find 00:23:29.180 --> 00:23:29.759 a good reason 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.519 to sing something 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:31.299 so ridiculous 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.860 as joy to the world. 00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.860 Do we realize 00:23:35.860 --> 00:23:37.580 what a unique gift 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.740 we have to offer 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.640 the world 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.480 in the name 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.319 of Jesus? 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.779 So when we sing 00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.460 joy to the world, 00:23:45.539 --> 00:23:46.180 we aren't just 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.799 singing as grateful 00:23:47.799 --> 00:23:49.080 worshipers, 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.319 but we're singing 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.620 with God-given authority 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:53.119 as missionaries 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.899 and as evangelists. 00:23:55.059 --> 00:23:55.619 We're singing 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:57.239 as emcees to the world 00:23:57.239 --> 00:23:57.779 crying out, 00:23:57.899 --> 00:23:59.019 make some noise 00:23:59.019 --> 00:24:00.219 for Jesus. 00:24:01.179 --> 00:24:02.099 That's what we're doing 00:24:02.099 --> 00:24:02.719 when we sing 00:24:02.719 --> 00:24:04.359 joy to the world. 00:24:05.419 --> 00:24:06.359 And not only that, 00:24:06.419 --> 00:24:06.919 but we're singing 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.739 as prophets. 00:24:08.879 --> 00:24:09.779 Not just with 00:24:09.779 --> 00:24:10.899 commemorative gratitude, 00:24:11.419 --> 00:24:12.099 not just as a 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:13.159 commanding invitation, 00:24:13.639 --> 00:24:14.439 but with a confident 00:24:14.439 --> 00:24:16.119 hope for the future. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:17.579 Now if you've been 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.119 paying attention 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:19.019 to Psalm 98, 00:24:19.139 --> 00:24:19.599 if you've been paying 00:24:19.599 --> 00:24:20.639 attention to the song 00:24:20.639 --> 00:24:21.439 Joy to the World, 00:24:21.440 --> 00:24:21.960 maybe it's raised 00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.720 some question marks 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.440 because Psalm 98 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:24.160 is a little bit, 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.140 it's pretty vague, 00:24:25.380 --> 00:24:25.539 right? 00:24:25.700 --> 00:24:26.299 Like what is the 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:26.840 psalmist actually 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.440 singing about 00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:28.240 in the history 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.039 of ancient Israel? 00:24:29.620 --> 00:24:30.180 What marvelous 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:32.039 things had God done? 00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:32.759 What was he referring 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.039 to? 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:33.820 What salvation 00:24:33.820 --> 00:24:34.580 had been accomplished 00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.920 and seen by the nations 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.000 and did the divine 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.160 king really come 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:38.820 and if so, 00:24:38.860 --> 00:24:39.460 in what way? 00:24:40.259 --> 00:24:40.980 Did Israel 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.440 ever really see 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:43.580 so great a salvation 00:24:43.580 --> 00:24:44.720 to match the triumph 00:24:44.720 --> 00:24:45.740 and the victory 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:46.299 and the tone 00:24:46.299 --> 00:24:47.000 of this psalm? 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:48.440 You know, 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:49.340 even for those of us 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:49.680 who believe 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.340 that this salvation 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:50.919 was fulfilled 00:24:50.919 --> 00:24:52.079 not in the nation 00:24:52.079 --> 00:24:53.720 state of ethnic Israel 00:24:53.720 --> 00:24:54.519 but in the coming 00:24:54.519 --> 00:24:55.000 of Christ 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:56.419 and in his wider kingdom, 00:24:56.939 --> 00:24:57.720 I think a lot of us 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.919 still struggle 00:24:58.919 --> 00:25:00.199 to sing Joy to the World 00:25:00.199 --> 00:25:02.439 in a deeply authentic way 00:25:02.439 --> 00:25:04.279 because how are we 00:25:04.279 --> 00:25:04.980 supposed to sing 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.079 Joy to the World 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:06.919 to our neighbors 00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:08.179 seeking asylum 00:25:08.179 --> 00:25:09.480 and refuge 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.379 from violence 00:25:10.379 --> 00:25:11.319 in their home countries? 00:25:12.119 --> 00:25:12.679 How are we supposed 00:25:12.679 --> 00:25:14.319 to sing Joy to Gaza 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:15.379 and to Ukraine 00:25:15.379 --> 00:25:16.259 and to North Korea 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:17.019 and to Sudan? 00:25:17.019 --> 00:25:18.879 I mean, 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.400 many of us 00:25:19.400 --> 00:25:20.160 probably feel like 00:25:20.160 --> 00:25:20.960 we can't even sing 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:22.879 Joy into our own hearts, 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.200 into the darkness 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.339 of our own depression 00:25:26.339 --> 00:25:27.200 or the despair 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.740 we feel about our jobs, 00:25:28.940 --> 00:25:29.980 our relationships, 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:31.500 or the whole of our lives. 00:25:32.900 --> 00:25:33.180 And you know, 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:34.059 this time of year, 00:25:34.139 --> 00:25:35.000 this is a super important 00:25:35.000 --> 00:25:35.740 question for us 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.940 with all the commercialization 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.759 of Christmas 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:39.279 and all the manufactured 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.000 merriment around us. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:42.279 We have to be asking, 00:25:43.079 --> 00:25:44.079 how can I sing Joy 00:25:44.079 --> 00:25:44.740 to the World 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:46.419 with authenticity 00:25:46.419 --> 00:25:48.720 rather than superficiality? 00:25:49.799 --> 00:25:50.419 And is there really 00:25:50.419 --> 00:25:51.139 such a thing 00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.419 as Joy 00:25:52.419 --> 00:25:53.399 to the World? 00:25:55.099 --> 00:25:55.759 This world 00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:56.899 is so broken, right? 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.299 It just seems so broken. 00:25:59.139 --> 00:25:59.960 Joy can seem like 00:25:59.960 --> 00:26:01.039 such a far-off dream. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.419 So who do we think 00:26:03.419 --> 00:26:04.240 we are to command 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.339 this broken world 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:06.799 into joy? 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.299 How could Isaac Watts 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.079 be so bold, 00:26:10.199 --> 00:26:10.759 so brash 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.299 to write a verse 00:26:11.299 --> 00:26:12.019 like verse 3? 00:26:12.539 --> 00:26:13.819 No more let sin 00:26:13.819 --> 00:26:15.419 and sorrows grow, 00:26:16.179 --> 00:26:16.939 nor thorns 00:26:16.939 --> 00:26:17.859 infest the ground. 00:26:17.919 --> 00:26:18.980 How can he expect us 00:26:18.980 --> 00:26:20.059 to sing such a thing? 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:21.339 I mean, sure, 00:26:21.439 --> 00:26:22.119 Jesus has come, 00:26:22.159 --> 00:26:22.399 but man, 00:26:22.439 --> 00:26:23.099 I still got plenty 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:24.159 of thorns in my yard, 00:26:24.599 --> 00:26:25.220 plenty of sin 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.079 in my life, 00:26:26.599 --> 00:26:27.579 plenty of sorrow 00:26:27.579 --> 00:26:28.599 in my family, 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:29.539 let alone the rest 00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.220 of this world. 00:26:30.299 --> 00:26:30.919 How can we sing 00:26:30.919 --> 00:26:31.460 this song 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:33.720 without being superficial 00:26:33.720 --> 00:26:34.539 and sentimental? 00:26:34.879 --> 00:26:35.980 How can we sing 00:26:35.980 --> 00:26:36.899 Joy to the World 00:26:36.899 --> 00:26:38.039 with depth 00:26:38.039 --> 00:26:39.039 and authenticity? 00:26:40.779 --> 00:26:41.539 Well, if you notice 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:42.299 in verse 9, 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:43.960 verse 9 of Psalm 98, 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:44.419 it says, 00:26:45.000 --> 00:26:45.599 let them sing 00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:46.619 before the Lord 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:48.539 for he comes, 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.859 or it can be translated 00:26:49.859 --> 00:26:51.960 for he is coming 00:26:51.960 --> 00:26:54.619 to judge the earth. 00:26:54.899 --> 00:26:57.159 He will judge, 00:26:57.259 --> 00:26:57.759 or that word 00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:58.579 can also be reign. 00:26:58.639 --> 00:26:59.579 He will reign 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:01.139 in righteousness 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:02.839 and the peoples 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:03.819 with equity. 00:27:05.099 --> 00:27:05.879 Did you notice 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:07.099 the tense change, 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.079 the change in the tense? 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:10.059 Verses 1 to 3 00:27:10.059 --> 00:27:11.240 had us looking backwards 00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:12.079 to the marvelous things 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:13.240 that God had done. 00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:14.720 Verses 4 to 8 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:15.559 have us looking 00:27:15.559 --> 00:27:16.299 to the present, 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:17.640 calling upon creation 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.380 to join us 00:27:18.380 --> 00:27:19.400 in our present worship. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.339 But verse 9 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:20.980 at the end, 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.380 it ends 00:27:22.380 --> 00:27:24.160 in the future tense. 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:26.220 He is coming. 00:27:26.759 --> 00:27:27.960 He will judge. 00:27:28.059 --> 00:27:29.140 He will reign 00:27:29.140 --> 00:27:29.880 as king 00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:30.759 over the world. 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:31.819 You see, 00:27:31.900 --> 00:27:32.579 ancient Israel 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.700 could have sang this song 00:27:33.700 --> 00:27:34.099 in reference 00:27:34.099 --> 00:27:34.779 to any number 00:27:34.779 --> 00:27:35.839 of salvation events. 00:27:36.160 --> 00:27:36.960 Deliverance from Egypt, 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:37.660 the establishment 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.700 of David's throne, 00:27:38.859 --> 00:27:40.120 return from exile 00:27:40.119 --> 00:27:41.019 in Babylon, 00:27:41.219 --> 00:27:41.639 but no matter 00:27:41.639 --> 00:27:42.619 when they sang this, 00:27:42.679 --> 00:27:43.679 no matter what salvation 00:27:43.679 --> 00:27:44.679 they'd experienced, 00:27:45.179 --> 00:27:46.759 there was always 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:49.179 a greater future salvation 00:27:49.179 --> 00:27:49.959 to come. 00:27:50.659 --> 00:27:52.439 When God would finally come 00:27:52.439 --> 00:27:53.919 as their king. 00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:56.439 Which means that Psalm 98 00:27:56.439 --> 00:27:57.679 was always intended 00:27:57.679 --> 00:28:00.439 to be sung prophetically. 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.839 Prophetically, 00:28:01.979 --> 00:28:02.779 with eyes toward 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:04.319 a future hope. 00:28:05.459 --> 00:28:06.019 And you know what? 00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:07.779 So was joy to the world. 00:28:07.779 --> 00:28:09.579 Fun fact, 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.119 did you know 00:28:10.119 --> 00:28:10.879 that Joy to the World 00:28:10.879 --> 00:28:12.139 actually is a part 00:28:12.139 --> 00:28:12.680 of a collection 00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.399 of hymns 00:28:13.399 --> 00:28:14.379 that Isaac Watts wrote? 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.440 And the collection 00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:16.879 is not entitled, 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:17.200 you know, 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:18.160 Best Christmas Hits 00:28:18.160 --> 00:28:18.980 by Isaac Watts. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:19.319 No. 00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.539 It's entitled, 00:28:20.879 --> 00:28:21.220 simply, 00:28:21.579 --> 00:28:22.420 The Psalms of David. 00:28:23.139 --> 00:28:24.079 It wasn't intended 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:25.720 to be a Christmas song. 00:28:27.000 --> 00:28:27.940 It's actually 00:28:27.940 --> 00:28:28.859 a perfect Advent song 00:28:28.859 --> 00:28:29.500 if you think about it, 00:28:29.559 --> 00:28:30.720 longing for the coming 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.240 of the Messiah, 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:33.000 the king. 00:28:34.099 --> 00:28:34.240 See, 00:28:34.299 --> 00:28:34.960 Isaac Watts, 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:35.539 he saw 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:37.259 the prophetic nature 00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:39.019 of Psalm 98 00:28:39.019 --> 00:28:41.119 as ancient Israel 00:28:41.119 --> 00:28:42.079 awaited their Messiah. 00:28:42.379 --> 00:28:42.899 And then he looked 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:44.359 at our own present age 00:28:44.359 --> 00:28:44.879 and saw that 00:28:44.879 --> 00:28:46.039 though Christ has come, 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:47.980 thorns still infest 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:48.659 the ground. 00:28:49.240 --> 00:28:49.319 Right? 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:51.259 And so like the prophets 00:28:51.259 --> 00:28:51.659 of old, 00:28:51.759 --> 00:28:53.119 we wait for the return 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:53.779 of our king. 00:28:54.659 --> 00:28:55.599 And so just like 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.180 Psalm 98, 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:57.200 Joy to the World 00:28:57.200 --> 00:28:59.059 is a song that was 00:28:59.059 --> 00:28:59.799 meant to be sung 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:00.779 prophetically, 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.299 in faith, 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.539 and with confidence 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:05.079 in our future hope, 00:29:05.159 --> 00:29:06.000 hope that our king 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.839 will come. 00:29:08.180 --> 00:29:08.480 So you see, 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:09.359 when we sing 00:29:09.359 --> 00:29:10.079 Joy to the World, 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.079 we are confessing 00:29:12.079 --> 00:29:12.779 our faith. 00:29:13.299 --> 00:29:14.440 We are prophetically 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:16.200 declaring our great hope 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.299 and what we know 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.720 God will do 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:19.980 in the future 00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:21.019 for our good, 00:29:21.099 --> 00:29:22.019 for the good of the world. 00:29:22.099 --> 00:29:22.879 With the eyes of faith, 00:29:22.960 --> 00:29:24.359 we declare this vision 00:29:24.359 --> 00:29:25.180 of the king 00:29:25.180 --> 00:29:26.099 that we have 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:27.599 who comes to make 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:28.480 his blessings flow 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:30.200 as far as the curse 00:29:30.200 --> 00:29:30.619 is found, 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:31.779 and that's super far. 00:29:31.779 --> 00:29:33.879 With the eye of faith, 00:29:33.960 --> 00:29:34.779 we look upon a world 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.639 with no more sin, 00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.839 no more sorrow, 00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:37.779 no more thorns 00:29:37.779 --> 00:29:38.539 infesting the ground, 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.519 and we live as prophets 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:40.599 and priests, 00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:42.279 princes and princesses, 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.279 as signposts 00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:43.960 and witnesses 00:29:43.960 --> 00:29:45.119 to this vision 00:29:45.119 --> 00:29:45.859 of the king. 00:29:46.940 --> 00:29:47.740 As prophets, 00:29:47.879 --> 00:29:48.980 we sing Joy to the World, 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:50.339 declaring and inviting 00:29:50.339 --> 00:29:50.899 the world 00:29:50.899 --> 00:29:52.119 into a better, 00:29:52.279 --> 00:29:53.539 more glorious future. 00:29:54.399 --> 00:29:55.240 As priests, 00:29:55.319 --> 00:29:56.599 we sing Joy to the World, 00:29:56.879 --> 00:29:58.279 offering up our sacrifice 00:29:58.279 --> 00:29:59.579 of praise unto God, 00:29:59.579 --> 00:30:01.740 and as a tender reminder 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.599 to one another 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.879 of our greatest 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.839 and only comfort 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:06.439 in life and in death. 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:08.079 We remind each other 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.899 that our sorrows 00:30:08.899 --> 00:30:09.879 and our sufferings 00:30:09.879 --> 00:30:11.000 are not forever, 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:11.919 and that in Christ 00:30:11.919 --> 00:30:13.339 we have a deep joy 00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:14.379 that can never, 00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:15.460 never be taken 00:30:15.460 --> 00:30:16.619 away from us. 00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:18.339 You know, 00:30:18.359 --> 00:30:19.139 there are some of us 00:30:19.139 --> 00:30:20.519 here in this room 00:30:20.519 --> 00:30:21.099 who have experienced 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.079 very recent, 00:30:22.899 --> 00:30:24.639 incredibly tragic loss. 00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:26.139 I'm thinking particularly 00:30:26.139 --> 00:30:27.159 of losses of sons, 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.819 losses of daughters. 00:30:28.819 --> 00:30:31.220 I think of Elizabeth Poore. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:33.099 She would have been 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.119 five years old 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.139 this week. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.319 I think of Isaac Lee. 00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:40.700 He'd be on his way 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.279 home shortly 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:43.220 from his first semester 00:30:43.220 --> 00:30:44.059 at college. 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:46.599 And we groan, 00:30:46.700 --> 00:30:47.079 don't we? 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.839 We groan. 00:30:49.879 --> 00:30:50.740 As the Apostle Paul says, 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:51.379 we groan 00:30:51.379 --> 00:30:52.659 with all creation, 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:55.240 awaiting the final redemption 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:57.099 of Elizabeth's body, 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:58.799 of Isaac's body, 00:30:58.919 --> 00:30:59.619 of our bodies, 00:30:59.699 --> 00:31:00.899 of this broken world 00:31:00.899 --> 00:31:01.779 that we inhabit. 00:31:03.299 --> 00:31:03.679 But you know, 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:05.240 when Lori and Peter Poore, 00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.679 and when Brian and Sam Lee 00:31:07.679 --> 00:31:10.279 come faithfully here 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.740 to this place, 00:31:11.819 --> 00:31:12.740 this sacred place, 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:15.059 to worship every week, 00:31:15.059 --> 00:31:17.579 and when they sing 00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:18.419 from their hearts, 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:21.220 Christ our hope 00:31:21.220 --> 00:31:21.960 in life and death, 00:31:22.639 --> 00:31:23.379 when they sing 00:31:23.379 --> 00:31:24.659 joy to the world, 00:31:25.440 --> 00:31:26.139 when they sing 00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:27.139 he is worthy, 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.539 along with us, 00:31:29.879 --> 00:31:31.000 into our ears, 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:34.839 let it come into our hearts 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.339 as well. 00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:38.119 This is powerful. 00:31:38.119 --> 00:31:41.379 That is a powerful, 00:31:42.179 --> 00:31:42.579 prophetic, 00:31:43.459 --> 00:31:44.879 priestly testimony 00:31:44.879 --> 00:31:47.039 to the hope 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:49.019 and the joy 00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:51.019 that we all share 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:52.419 in Christ, 00:31:52.479 --> 00:31:53.559 and in Christ alone. 00:31:56.139 --> 00:31:57.659 Like royal children, 00:31:58.099 --> 00:31:59.779 we sing joy to the world 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:01.000 with confidence 00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:03.759 in our triumphant Father, 00:32:04.479 --> 00:32:05.459 who is the King. 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:09.140 One Old Testament scholar, 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.380 Derek Kidner, 00:32:11.259 --> 00:32:12.380 he said that the psalms, 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:13.920 the psalms we sing now 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:15.319 are a rehearsal, 00:32:16.340 --> 00:32:17.440 and God's presence 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.660 among his worshipers 00:32:18.660 --> 00:32:19.720 is a prelude 00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:20.799 to his appearing 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.019 to the world. 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:23.600 You see, 00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:24.299 we rehearse 00:32:24.299 --> 00:32:25.579 what we believe 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.960 to really be coming, 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:29.059 even when it hasn't 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.880 happened yet, 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:31.360 even when we haven't 00:32:31.360 --> 00:32:32.360 seen it yet. 00:32:34.160 --> 00:32:35.039 And honestly, 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:36.039 it's more than a rehearsal 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:37.139 because God is here. 00:32:37.279 --> 00:32:38.240 Christ is here 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:38.759 in our midst 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:39.460 by his Spirit 00:32:39.460 --> 00:32:40.519 even as we await 00:32:40.519 --> 00:32:42.019 his final consummate 00:32:42.019 --> 00:32:43.619 return in the flesh. 00:32:44.680 --> 00:32:45.619 So my only 00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:46.759 concluding exhortation 00:32:46.759 --> 00:32:47.139 this morning, 00:32:47.259 --> 00:32:47.740 Christ Church, 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:48.500 is to sing. 00:32:49.920 --> 00:32:50.480 And to sing 00:32:50.480 --> 00:32:51.399 with all our hearts 00:32:51.399 --> 00:32:53.859 joy to the world. 00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:55.599 Sing as a kingdom 00:32:55.599 --> 00:32:56.579 of priests 00:32:56.579 --> 00:32:58.079 with our eyes 00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.059 fixed on Jesus 00:32:59.059 --> 00:33:00.539 with commemorative 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:01.819 gratitude to God. 00:33:02.119 --> 00:33:02.759 Let us sing 00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:04.180 as a commanding invitation 00:33:04.180 --> 00:33:05.000 to one another 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:06.180 and to the world 00:33:06.180 --> 00:33:07.460 to join in our song 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:08.299 and let us sing 00:33:08.299 --> 00:33:09.620 with confident hope 00:33:09.620 --> 00:33:10.880 in God's good 00:33:10.880 --> 00:33:12.279 new creation promises 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.940 to us in Christ. 00:33:15.360 --> 00:33:16.460 Sing to the Lord 00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.420 a new song, 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.600 even if it's 300 years old. 00:33:19.960 --> 00:33:20.680 Sing to the Lord 00:33:20.680 --> 00:33:21.340 a new song 00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:21.940 for our King 00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.900 has come. 00:33:23.820 --> 00:33:24.480 He's come 00:33:24.480 --> 00:33:25.539 wearing a crown 00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.380 of thorns 00:33:26.380 --> 00:33:28.180 and he has done 00:33:28.180 --> 00:33:29.840 truly marvelous things 00:33:29.840 --> 00:33:31.600 and in marvelous ways 00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:31.860 too. 00:33:32.020 --> 00:33:33.500 Look upon his right hand, 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:34.760 the hand that accomplished 00:33:34.760 --> 00:33:35.980 salvation for us 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:37.560 and see that it is pierced 00:33:37.560 --> 00:33:38.400 straight through. 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.940 Look upon his holy arms 00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:42.300 spread wide upon 00:33:42.300 --> 00:33:43.200 a cross 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.360 in our place. 00:33:45.680 --> 00:33:47.120 This is the kind of king 00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:48.940 that we worship. 00:33:51.260 --> 00:33:52.660 It's a king who rules 00:33:52.660 --> 00:33:53.240 the world 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.400 in truth 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:56.019 and grace 00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:58.220 at the same time. 00:33:59.240 --> 00:34:00.440 Uncompromising truth 00:34:00.440 --> 00:34:02.660 and costly 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.720 yet abundant 00:34:03.720 --> 00:34:04.640 grace. 00:34:05.880 --> 00:34:06.340 A God 00:34:06.340 --> 00:34:07.320 who made a way 00:34:07.320 --> 00:34:08.000 for us 00:34:08.000 --> 00:34:10.019 through the cross. 00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:10.920 A God 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:11.820 who's come to us 00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:13.119 to go to a cross 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:16.619 that we might both 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:18.119 glory in his righteousness 00:34:18.119 --> 00:34:20.579 and at the same time 00:34:20.579 --> 00:34:21.639 wonder at his love. 00:34:23.099 --> 00:34:23.980 It's my prayer for us 00:34:23.980 --> 00:34:24.739 that we would sing 00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:25.799 as a people 00:34:25.799 --> 00:34:26.599 glorying 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.980 in the high standard 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:28.599 of righteousness 00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:29.879 that Christ has set 00:34:29.879 --> 00:34:30.639 before us 00:34:30.639 --> 00:34:31.960 and at the same time 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:33.319 who has loved us 00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:33.920 unto death 00:34:33.920 --> 00:34:34.559 on a cross 00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:36.480 and met us there. 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.279 Let us wonder 00:34:38.279 --> 00:34:39.500 in this season. 00:34:40.619 --> 00:34:41.500 So let's do that now 00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.079 as we sing 00:34:42.079 --> 00:34:43.379 joy to the world. 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.679 Will you pray with me? 00:34:44.679 --> 00:34:44.739 Amen. 00:34:44.739 --> 00:34:44.799 Amen. 00:34:44.799 --> 00:34:44.839 Amen. 00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:44.879 Amen. 00:34:44.879 --> 00:34:44.920 Amen. 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:56.039 Lord God 00:34:56.039 --> 00:34:57.179 two wonders 00:34:57.179 --> 00:34:59.019 now that we 00:34:59.019 --> 00:35:00.460 confess 00:35:00.460 --> 00:35:02.039 our worth 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.759 and our unworthiness. 00:35:07.819 --> 00:35:09.299 Christ has paid it all. 00:35:09.920 --> 00:35:11.119 Our ransom has been paid. 00:35:12.819 --> 00:35:14.420 He's come to give us joy. 00:35:15.739 --> 00:35:16.059 Father 00:35:16.059 --> 00:35:16.819 many of us 00:35:16.819 --> 00:35:17.879 feel like we cannot 00:35:17.879 --> 00:35:18.779 taste that joy. 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:20.880 What do we taste 00:35:20.880 --> 00:35:21.540 in our encounter 00:35:21.540 --> 00:35:22.160 with Christ 00:35:22.160 --> 00:35:23.680 here in this sacred place 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:25.000 even as we long 00:35:25.000 --> 00:35:25.560 for the fullness 00:35:25.560 --> 00:35:26.400 of that feast 00:35:26.400 --> 00:35:27.300 at the last day. 00:35:28.400 --> 00:35:29.660 Make us a prophetically 00:35:29.660 --> 00:35:31.380 singing people of God 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:33.200 inviting the nations 00:35:33.200 --> 00:35:35.000 to join in our joy. 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.840 In Jesus' name. 00:35:37.500 --> 00:35:37.740 Amen. 00:35:37.739 --> 00:35:38.739 Amen.