“Why Don’t You Give Us Something Better to Sing?”
"But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'"
Luke 2:10
After church the son complained to his father that the congregational singing left much to be desired. Does this sound familiar? It could have been said last Sunday. As it is, this was said years ago by the son of a churchman. This father had the wisdom to turn the son's complaint into a challenge and said, "Well then, young man, why don't you give us something better to sing?" The eighteen year old responded to the challenge and the very next Sunday had written a new hymn and the congregation loved it. For the next two years, young Isaac Watts wrote a new hymn text for every Sunday. In 1719 Watts published a book of hymns and the world got its first look at what has become one of our most popular Christmas hymns, "Joy to the World! The Lord is come." His motivation to write hymns came from Psalm 98, "Sing to the Lord a new song."
Imagine it! This much loved Christmas hymn and many more, came from a teenager's complaints about dull Sunday music. The complaint was channeled well by a wise father. Truly, the news of the gospel, like the news of Christ's birth announced by the angel, is to be a source of "great joy for all the people!"