Our Joy Has Come

As many of you know, we’ve been learning a new song in the evening that is based on Mary’s Magnificat, Zechariah’s Blessing and the Angels’ song to the shepherds (all of these passages are, obviously, part of our Advent series this year). We have only had a couple times to practice it as a congregation, and I had hoped to have one more evening to learn it before using it in the morning service, but things have not gone as planned (Proverbs 19:21).

So we are going to sing it together this coming Sunday morning and, to get us all ready, we have a little, rough version of the song (we recorded last week and I’m still recovering and sound like a cracking frog at some points; feel free to laugh; Jill does) and the lead sheet below. Please take a little time to become familiar with the song.

If you want a little more background, please continue to read. If you’d rather just listen, you can drop down below!

I wrote this song a couple of Christmas’ ago. I’ve always wanted to write something Christmasy, but I find adding to the incredible and well-known Christmas hymns to be quite difficult. When you try to write a new Christmas hymn, it’s almost like you can hear the other great hymns laughing and saying, “Don’t even try! You’ll fail!” They’re probably right. I do think there are a few that risen to the ranks of that prestigious list (Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery, by Papa and Boswell would be one).

I hadn’t originally thought about ever using this song in worship, but through some prodding and working it out a bit more, we’re going to give it a try! Time will tell if it’s worth singing as a congregational hymn. It’s a bit different melodically (to some ears), but it’s almost straight Scripture and I think it captures the thought and tone of Mary and Zechariah’s songs quite well. I’ve always wanted to add my voice to their songs and Our Joy Has Come gives us that opportunity (I’m assuming there are other songs that do this as well).

I have included the lyrics here so that you could see where the various parts come from. The song is a sandwich of Mary and Zechariah, with an exclamation of the Angels at the end. The bolded parts are from Mary, while the normal text is from Zechariah. When you read their songs, they overlap in content and I like to think of this song as a duet. For instance, the second line really comes from them both. They both have mercy as an emphasized theme and this mercy is something promised long ago to our fathers and is now being remembered by God in the coming of his Son. Other parts of their songs are more specific to each of them, which adds a beautiful diversity. You’ll also note that there is a slight nod to Simeon’s song in the chorus: his tender mercies have been seen (see Luke 2:30 or you can wait to hear about it at the Christmas Eve service Sunday night).

Verse 1:
Our Lord God has come down
To remember his great mercy spoke to our fathers long ago
He’s come to show his love and fulfill his oath
To grant us freedom and rest from all our foes
And we, being freed from all
Of the hands that seek to rob us of joy, might serve him without fear.

Chorus:
Blessed is the Lord he has come down to us
He has raised up a horn for saving us
His Sun has risen on us, his tender mercies have been seen
His light has come into our dark — He’s come

Verse 2:
He has looked down upon
Our humble estate and come to provide atonement for our sin
In holiness and in righteousness
He will forever guide us into the way of peace
My soul magnifies the Lord,
My spirit and heart rejoices in God my Savior and my King.

Well, that should be enough for now. I’m looking forward to Christmas Eve morning and evening services! I pray the Lord blesses us with his presence and deep sense of his love and mercy toward us in Christ.

Here is the lead sheet and audio.