The Songs Tell the Story: A Family Advent DevotionalEgzanp

The Song about Light despite Dark Days

Henry van Dyke had been a pastor but was a well-known professor of English literature at Princeton University when he wrote “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”

Van Dyke had been visiting a friend’s church when he was inspired by the beauty of the Berkshire Mountains in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He wrote the words to “Joyful, Joyful” and handed them to his friend, insisting that the words be sung to the music of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.”

This Christmas carol was written just before the beginning of World War I. People were worried about the future, but the poet wanted them to consider the Presence of God, even in the most difficult of times.

He wrote, “Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the dark of doubts away. Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.”

Henry van Dyke knew there were reasons to be worried, but he also knew there were reasons to be joyful. Our God is a God of glory and a Lord of love.

Later in the hymn, we sing words that remind us of the character and love of Christ for all of us:

Thou art giving and forgiving,

Ever blessing, ever blest,

Wellspring of the joy of living,

Ocean depth of happy rest!

Thou our Father, Christ our Brother,

All who live in love are Thine;

Teach us how to love each other,

Lift us to the joy divine.

Jesus is the “wellspring of the joy of living.” We belong to him, and he will take good care of us this Christmas. Our job is simply to love one another as Jesus has loved us.

That is how we live with the joy of Jesus, this Christmas and always.