The hymn for today, based on Psalm 98, is a very familiar hymn, "Joy to the World." Psalm 98, the assigned psalm for this week, was the source for yesterday's devotion written by Carol Geisler of the Lutheran Hour.

The memorable line in the psalm is the opening verse, "Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!" As Dr. Geisler wrote, "Those marvelous things are the mighty works that God has done to bring about salvation and reveal His righteousness to the nations. In love and faithfulness, He remembered His covenant promise to Israel. In just a few weeks we will celebrate Advent. We will sing familiar songs about the marvelous things the Lord has done. In the birth of His holy Son, God has made His salvation known."

Although we aren't close to Christmas, the hymn is one that expresses the joy of the salvation we find in this "new song" in Christ Jesus.

"Joy to the World!" Hymn 387, Lutheran Service Book

1. Joy to the world; the Lord is come; Let Earth receive her King;

Let ev'ry heart prepare him room, And heav'n and nature sing.

2. Joy to the Earth, the Savior reigns; Our mortal songs employ,

While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains, Repeat the sounding joy.

3. 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.

4. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove

The glories of his righteousness, And wonders of his love.