The striking phrase above comes from the third verse of Isaac Watts’ 1719 hymn, “Joy to the World.” “No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground. He [Jesus] comes to make His blessings known far as the curse is found.” This song, long beloved as a Christmas season carol is better understood as a hymn of hope (and yes, joy) at the prospect of Jesus’ Second Coming — when our Lord enters the earthly realm not as a baby, but as the victorious King of Kings returning to judge the world in righteousness. Yes, the exciting promise of intense and abiding joy (for both believers and the physical world we live in) refers to the Faithful and True riding through the heavens on a white horse Who will wage war and execute holy judgment on the nations arrayed against Him.
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He Who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Revelation 19:11-16)
Isaac Watts was inspired to write “Joy to the World” from his appreciation of Psalm 98 which eloquently speaks of Messiah’s ministry as Supreme Judge at the end of the age. It is a most dramatic prospect, to be sure. Our divine brother, He Who humbled Himself in the incarnation by becoming a preborn child, then through an earthly ministry as a prophet and teacher, and then into the humiliating suffering of crucifixion and death, now breaks forth from heaven for service as Almighty Judge and Restorer. And the divine judgment will not only be pure, but thorough and complete. Thus, the psalmist’s exhortation to the sea, the rivers, the mountains, and the whole world to shout joyfully to the Lord.
But the line “far as the curse is found” suggests that Watts was also well aware of the Bible’s teaching on curses. Adam’s sin resulted not only in a curse on he and Eve and the whole human race extending from them, but also on the earth itself which had been given Adam as his stewardship. (Genesis 3:17) That is also emphasized in Isaiah 24:5-6.
“The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore the curse has devoured the earth, and those who dwell in it are desolate. Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left.”
Furthermore, we are told that all who inhabit the earth are under God’s curse because of our sins and transgressions and rebellion. “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.’” (Galatians 3:10) Of course, we are all under the law. Though we have an inexcusable obligation to keep the law in every point, we have utterly failed to do so. We are therefore under its curse. But the apostle Paul isn’t done with this subject.
“Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13,14)
Jesus Christ endured the curse — our curse — when, in our stead, He died on the cross. Yes, God’s holiness required perfection, but we were infinitely far off His standard of righteousness. Yet God made a way. Jesus Christ came to bring us close, to eliminate the gap, to transform us from rebels to friends, to adopt us into His forever family when we trusted in the sacrifice offered for us; namely, Jesus’ atoning death at Calvary.
And it is our great High Priest Jesus Who will (very soon, I pray) make His return to the earth in order to display His glorious and full triumph in judgment, cleansing, and restoration. He will make all things new. He will make all things right. He will bring all things in His creation into a harmonious perfection. I join the psalmist, the apostle, and the hymnwriter in heartily recommending that all Christians — in all seasons — shout gratefully and confidently, “Joy to the world; the Lord is come; let Earth receive her King!”