This is the fourth article in a series that has discussed the four stanzas of the Christmas hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” In the first article, Jacqueline Isaacs beautifully tied her experience of adopting a son one year ago with our adoption as children of God when we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. This last article will continue her theme to consider how Christians are called “to live in light of our new reality as adopted sons and daughters of God.”
I was asked to reflect on the last stanza, since it contains several allusions to various aspects of the military, where I have served on active duty and as a civilian for over thirty-eight years. Here it is:
Mortals join the mighty chorus
which the morning stars began
Father-love is reigning o’er us
brother-love binds man to man.
Ever singing, march we onward
victors in the midst of strife.
Joyful music lifts us sunward
in the triumph song of life.
These lyrics are so appropriate at Christmas. They reflect the theme of joy that was expressed so boldly by the angelic host as described by Luke in his Gospel: “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk. 2:10). Let us take a deeper look, shall we?
Initial Observations
The first thing I notice about this stanza, which is also true of the previous ones, is that there are four couplets. The first and second lines go together, as do the third and fourth ones, etc. We will observe the first two couplets, then focus on the three military allusions he makes in the last two.
As this hymn comes to an end, the audience and those who sing are cordially invited to “join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began.” What is van Dyke referring to? In Job 38:7, God mentions that “the morning stars sang together” when he laid the earth’s foundation. Interestingly, Jesus is referred to as “the bright Morning Star” in Rev. 22:16, which seems right as he was there.
In the next part, we hear, “Father-love is reigning o’er us, brother-love binds man to man.” This ties in well with the creation account also but brings us further.
From the beginning, God revealed his covenant faithfulness to his chosen people. He gave his laws which ensured that they would love their fellow man. The two greatest commandments that Jesus reemphasized in his earthly ministry were to love God and love our neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40). What brings us joy is knowing God’s love for us, which was designed to be passed on to others, creating a loving community.
Ever Singing, March We Onward
The first thing I notice about this part is its continuity with the beginning of the stanza where we are invited to “join the mighty chorus.” Now, we are described as those who continue to sing as we march onward. However, the picture the lyricist paints here does not show Christian soldiers marching off to war, but as soldiers returning from victory. So, who or what has been defeated?
The Apostle Paul gives us a good rundown of the victory over sin and death that we have in Jesus as God’s adopted sons and daughters who have been irreversibly transformed by the Holy Spirit. Scripture tells us that we have been set free from the penalty and power of sin because of our faith in Christ, who paid the penalty with his blood. However, we also know that sin is still present in our lives as long as we live in this human body (see Rom. 3:22-24, 6:6, and 1 Jn. 1:8).
Because of the new reality of our changed status in God’s eyes from wretched sinner to beloved son or daughter, there is plenty to sing about on a daily basis. I find myself singing a chorus or hymn spontaneously throughout my day to offer a sacrifice of praise to the God who set me free.
Victors in the Midst of Strife
We truly do have victory in Jesus. Before we became Christians, we were blind, dead, and enemies of God. When we were born again, he gave us sight, new life, and adopted us into his forever family.
However, in this moment in time between Jesus’ first and second coming, we will continue to have temptations and trials of various kinds throughout our lives. It is in the midst of this strife that we can boldly come before the throne of grace to receive help in time of need (Heb. 4:16).
We have been given some valuable tools to help. The Apostle Paul paints a picture of the “armor of God” in Eph. 6:10-17 to be used whenever we need to fight the spiritual battles we face as Christians in the midst of a dark and cruel world. I know that I need to put it on more often than I do to defeat the deception, distraction, and discouragement Satan uses to get my eyes off of Jesus.
In the Triumph Song of Life
In the last couplet, we sing about “joyful music” that “lifts us sunward in the triumph song of life.” In addition to what I’ve already mentioned above about the radical transformation that becomes our new reality as adopted sons and daughters of the God of the universe, is there anything else worth singing about?
I can think of a number of things that lift me up and bring me joy. In John 15:11, Jesus said that he would share his joy with us so that our joy would be complete. We read that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Neh. 8:10). We can rejoice in the Lord always (Phil. 4:4) and count it all joy when we face trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance (Jam. 1:2-3).
Again, I am reminded in the use of the word triumph, that all of these blessings that come from the hand of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are rooted in Jesus’ victory over sin and death that was demonstrated when he rose from the dead. Because he lives now, he gives us new life in him.
Final Reflections
This last stanza reminds us of several realities that are true of those who have put their faith and hope in Christ. It is rich with imagery of saints who praise their Creator just like his creation does, who bask in the love of the Father who is in control and has provided brothers and sisters so that we would not be lonely, who march joyfully to the beat of a heavenly drummer because we are set free from the power of sin and death, and who press on despite the challenges that we all face.
My desire is that we will take time this Christmas to meditate on Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke’s Gospels and look more closely at this and other hymns to remind us of who we celebrate and who we are as adopted sons and daughters of God.
“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Cor. 9:15).
