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By Jubilee College of Music Dean Dr. Merril Smoak

“Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come” and “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” are two of our favorite Christmas carols that we sing every December as we remember and celebrate the miraculous human birth of Jesus.  The words found in both of these Christmas carols are filled with wonderful Christ-centered theology.  Both of these texts were originally written as hymns for congregational singing, but today we certainly include them as part of our Christmas carol repertoire.  The word “joy” reminds us to celebrate Jesus’ birth with exuberant praise.  The word “hark” reminds us to listen closely and pay attention to all of the words that were spoken by the angels at His birth.

“Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come” by Isaac Watts (1674-1748) was published in 1719 in his Psalms of David Imitated Into the Language of the New Testament.  Watts believed that if the Old Testament Psalms were to be sung by Christians that the Psalms must be “Christianized” or versified with New Testament, Christ-centered language.  “Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come” is Watts’ versification of Psalm 98 verses 4-9.  Notice the New Testament language in these phrases:

· the Lord is come
· Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room
· the Savior reigns
· He rules the world with truth and grace
· The glories of His righteousness
· And wonders of His love

It is also interesting to note that Watts used the present tense “is” rather than the past tense “has” in the phrase the Lord is come.  This reminds us that Jesus is always present in our current lives and that he is coming again; both joyful realities!

Two phrases in stanza three need an explanation:  Nor thorns infest the ground and Far as the curse in found.  “The curse” and “thorns infesting the ground” refer to the story of how sin entered the human race through the sin of Adam and Eve as recorded in Genesis 3:17-18.  Because this sin infected all of humanity Jesus would one day die upon the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  Thus Watts responds in stanza four with a joyful threefold response about Jesus’ love:

And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Therefore, we must sing: Joy to the world! the Lord [Jesus] is come!

“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) is a superb example of a hymn and Christmas carol written in eighteenth century English language.  It was first published in 1739 in Wesley’s Sacred Hymns and Poems.  As suggested in the title these words are all about the angel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth to the shepherds as recorded in Luke chapter two.  The first two phrases of stanza one are repeated as a refrain at the end of each of the three stanzas:

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Like Watts’ verses Wesley’s words are also filled with New Testament and Christ centered phrases:

· God and sinners reconciled
· Christ the everlasting Lord
· Hail the Son of Righteousness
· Light and life to all He brings
· Born that man no more may die
· Born to give them second birth

Three of Wesley’s phrases remind us of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Jesus spoken by the prophet Isaiah (7:14 & 9:6):

· Offspring of a Virgin’s womb
· Jesus, our Emmanuel
· Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace

Incarnation theology and Trinitarian theology are mentioned in these two phrases:

· Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
· Hail the incarnate Deity

Through Wesley’s words we join our voices with the angelic host and sing:  Glory to the [our] newborn King [King Jesus]!

As Christians living in the 21^st century we must continue to proclaim the theological truths surrounding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.  Our Christmas carols must be saturated with Christ centered words as exemplified in Watts’ “Joy to the World! the Lord Is Come” and Wesley’s “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing.”  With joy we sing these words and harken to the truths revealed in the angel’s message to the shepherds.  Do not wait.  Now is the time to sing these two Christmas carols!

God’s Grace Is Amazing!
Dr. Merril SmoakJanuary 1, 2023 is remembered as the 250th anniversary of the first singing of John Newton’s well-known hymn “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound.” The Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC records that:

^[1]It was January 1, 1773. John Newton led his congregation down the road from the parish church in Olney, England, to Lord Dartmouth’s Great Hall to sing “new” music not traditionally allowed by the Anglican Church. Newton loved to write hymns and poetry, and the hymn he wrote for this day was special. It spoke of his conversion, of his self- proclaimed wretchedness, and of the saving power of God’s grace. Since then, the words of “Amazing Grace” have struck a chord with millions across cultures and generations, and its popularity has never wavered.

Six years later in 1779 “Amazing Grace” was first published in a hymn collection compiled by John Newton (1725-1807) entitled Olney Hymns. The familiar tune associated with “Amazing Grace” first appeared in the American tune book Virginia Harmony (1831), but did not include Newton’s hymn. It was William Walker (1809-1875) who first joined together this tune with Newton’s hymn in his tune book Southern Harmony (1835). Today, John Newton’s words and this familiar tune are still being sung by Christians around the world.

Although the phrase “amazing grace” does not appear in the Bible, we are all familiar with the use of the word “grace” in scripture. Here are three familiar references:

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 6:8
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

The Ephesians verse reminds all of us that God’s grace is amazing and we join with John Newton in singing:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

Of John Newton’s original six stanzas printed in 1779, the first three stanzas remain as the most often sung by congregations today. The well-know and often added stanza beginning with the phrase “When we’ve been there ten thousand years” was not written by John Newton.^[2] This stanza appeared “as the final stanza in a version of the anonymous hymn ‘Jerusalem, my happy home’ which appeared in numerous nineteenth-century American collections.”^[3] Here are the often omitted stanzas four, five, and six of Newton’s original:

The Lord has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures. Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who call’d me here below, Will be for ever mine.

In the recent years of the 21st century the personal testimony of Newton’s words are being kept alive through two contemporary praise and worship songs: “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” and “This Is Amazing Grace.”

In 2006 Chris Tomlin released his See the Morning album which included an arrangement of Newton’s hymn with an added bridge entitled “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).”^[4] In 2008 Tomlin’s arrangement of “Amazing Grace” was nominated for a GMA Dove Award and still remains today as a popular contemporary praise and worship song.^[5] From Newton’s original six stanzas, Tomlin included the familiar stanzas one and two and the lesser known stanzas four and six. The words of the bridge are an excellent summation of John Newton’s life and the theology of his hymn “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound.”

My chains are gone, I’ve been set free, My God, my Savior has ransomed me, And like a flood His mercy reigns, Unending love, Amazing grace.

It is significant to note that “amazing grace,” the concluding phrase of Tomlin’s bridge, is also the beginning phrase of Newton’s hymn.

In 2013Phil Wickham released his The Ascension album which included the song “This Is Amazing Grace.” This song does not include any of the stanzas from Newton’s hymn, but including the phrase “amazing grace”^[4] in the beginning line of the refrain immediately remind us of Newton’s hymn.

This is amazing grace, This is unfailing love, That You would take my place, That You would bear my cross. You laid down Your life, That I would be set free. Oh, Jesus, I sing for All that You’ve done for me.

In Wickman’s own words:

The song is simply about the amazing grace and unfailing love that this God… this King of glory… this King above all Kings has shown to us…By taking our place on the cross, He bore our sin and went to the grave so that we may be set free, so that we may be forgiven.^[4]

It is significant to note that both Tomlin and Wickham use the phrase “set free” in describing God’s amazing grace.

John Newton’s original hymn, Chris Tomlin’s arrangement of the hymn, and Phil Wickham’s newly composed song are all intended to be sung by Christians as they proclaim the Good News of God’s amazing grace. Today we join together with Newton’s 1772 congregation and sing:

Amazing grace! how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

And we conclude by singing Wickham’s words:

Oh, Jesus, I sing for All that You’ve done for me.

Yes, let the singing continue; God’s grace is amazing!

[1] https://www.museumofthebible.org/magazine/exhibitions/celebrating-250-years-of-amazing-grace
[2] William J. Reynolds, Companion to the Baptist Hymnal (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1976), 165.
[3] Ibid
[4] Chris Tomlin, John Newton, John P. Rees, Louie Giglio, worshiptogether.com songs, 2006.
[5] https://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/news/021508doves.aspx?mobile=false&q=cbnmusic/news/021508doves.aspx
[6] Jeremy Rioddle, Josh Farro, Phil Wickman, Bethel Music, 2012
[7] https://freeccm.com/2013/07/02/story-behind-the-song-this-is-amazing-grace-by-phil-wickham
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Several times in the Psalms we find the admonition to “sing a new song.” As worship leaders and church musicians this should immediately get our attention. We are always looking for a new song to learn and then teach to our congregations. Let’s examine these references to “singing a new song” found in the songbook of the ancient Hebrews.

Psalm 33:3
Sing to him [God] a new song;
    play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

Psalm 96:1
Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!

Psalm 98:1
Oh sing to the Lord a new song,
     for he has done marvelous things!

Psalm 144:9
I will sing a new song to you, O God;
    upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you [God],

Psalm 149:1
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!

Here are 10 things we learn about music and worship from examining these verses:

• Sing! Throughout the Psalms we find references to singing. God has created human beings with the physical ability to sing. With our own bodies we create music. We call this singing.
• These verses teach us that our singing is to have a purposeful direction. We are to sing directly to the LORD. Our physical cognitive process (our minds) enable us to lift our singing voices up to God as praise and worship.
• We are directed to sing a “new song” to the LORD. What does this mean? We will discuss this in detail below.
• Musical instruments are a part of singing a new song to the LORD.
• Loud shouts of joy are a part of singing a new song to the LORD.
• “All the earth” is to sing to the LORD. This includes humans and all of God’s creation (rivers, mountains, tress, etc.).
• We sing to the LORD because “he has done marvelous things!”
• Instrumentalists play their instruments and make music to the LORD.
• Singing a new song to the LORD is synonymous with praising the LORD.
• We are to sing a new song to the LORD with other people who love the LORD. We do this each Sunday morning when we come together to worship the LORD.

Now, what does it mean to “sing a new song?” Here are four suggestions to consider:

• Yes, obviously it can mean to write new words and compose new melodies to form a brand new song. This has happened throughout Christian history and it must continue today. We always need new songs of praise and worship to express our love for God, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The writer of Lamentations helps us with this understanding:
  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
            his mercies never come to an end;
   they are new every morning;
       great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
• It could also simply mean that the words and music are new to the singers. The singers have found a song that was previously written and it is new to them. This happens all the time. As Christians we have a rich heritage of hymns and songs that have been written in the past by persons who have loved the LORD. Let’s keep on looking for that one special song to express our love for the LORD.
• Non-Christians and new Believers could all of a sudden decide to sing the songs of Yahweh. Yes! This is wonderful! Non-Christians are being prompted by the Holy Spirit to become believers in Jesus. As they experience singing new songs about God’s love for them they will soon become followers of Jesus. New Believers must sing new songs about forgiveness of sins and the joy of their salvation because of Jesus’ death on the cross. This reminds us of the reference to singing a new song in John’s Revelation:
  And they sang a new song, saying,
  Worthy are you to take the scroll
       and to open its seals,
  for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
       from every tribe and language and people and nation,
       (Revelation 5:9)
• Here is one last possibility about the meaning of singing a new song. There are many worship songs that we have been singing for many years. The words and melody are very familiar. Then, all of a sudden while singing one of these songs a particular word or phrase jumps out at us with a fresh, new understanding. We are now singing this familiar song as a new song. This reminds us of Paul’s instructions to the church in Corinth:
  What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind [understanding] also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind [understanding] also. 
       (1 Corinthians 14:15)

There is one more reference to singing a new song in the Psalms.

Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth,
     a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
     and put their trust in the Lord.

This is amazing! God himself puts a new song in our mouths and we lift this new song back to God as a new song of praise! AND (!) because of this new song many people will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in the LORD! The singing of this new song will lead to new Believers!

Amen! Let’s continue to lift new songs unto the LORD!

– Dr. Merril Smoak

Jubilee College of Music San Francisco held its quarterly recital just before Christmas break. Thirteen students and their instructor Alice Kubo performed piano music by Beethoven, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and other famous composers. 

Notable pieces included Alleluia by W.A. Mozart; Finale by Johannes Brahms; Autumn by Antonio Vivaldi; Harmony of the Angels Op.100, No 21; Polka Op.29, No 14 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, and My Heart Will Go On by James Horner. 

The music students’ performances included a piano and drum duet.  Instructor Alice Kubo contributed to the recital by performing Sonata In E-Flat Major, Op. 81a. The audience enjoyed the music’s variety of dramatic, dynamic, and rhythmic contrasts. The evening was an impressive showcase of JCM’s Fall quarter piano course.

Christians Musicians Are Always Giving Thanks

Christian musicians are always looking for scripture verses that mention music and singing.  These verses guide us in our song selection and deepen our understanding of how to lead others in worship.  In the New Testament, we find two examples of these selected Bible verses:  Ephesians 5:15-20 and Colossians 3:15-17.  These two well-known passages mention the familiar “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs” of the first century Christian church.  These verses are singularly important because they teach us that singing was an important part of early Christian worship. 

Yes, singing is an important part of our Sunday worship, but as we read and study Ephesians 5:15-20 and Colossians 3:15-17 other themes emerge that must impact our worship leadership.  Note these phrases:

         “always giving thanks”       Ephesians 5:20

         “And be thankful”               Colossians 3:15

         “with gratitude”                  Colossians 3:16

         “giving thanks”                   Colossians 3:17

In these verses Paul reminds us of the link between singing and giving thanks that was already established in the Old Testament:

         “It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
         to sing praises to your name, O Most High”          Psalm 92:1

As we sing together during times of worship we are giving thanks.  As we pray we are giving thanks.  As Christians, we live a life of everyday giving thanks to God for his blessings, mercy, and grace.  We continually give thanks to God for his Son Jesus and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  Thanks be to God!

Let’s take a closer look at Paul’s teachings on “giving thanks” in these verses from Ephesians and Colossians.  Here is Ephesians 5:19-20

        “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Notice that the phrase “always giving thanks” is a continuation of the sentence “Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.”  In verse 20 Paul answers three questions:           

To whom do we give thanks?         “to God”

For what do we give thanks?          “for everything”

How do we give thanks?                “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”

We give thanks to God for everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!  Amen!

Here is Colossians 3:16b-17

       “…singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.  And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Again Paul links “singing” with “gratitude” (giving thanks).  He then reminds us that our spoken words and our actions are all to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus as we give thanks to God through Jesus.

On November 25 of this year, we will celebrate a national holiday called Thanksgiving Day.  As Christians, we understand that setting aside one day per year to give thanks is certainly not enough!  Every moment of every day we give thanks to God for our very breath and our new life in Christ Jesus.

Here are the words to one of my favorite closing worship songs:

         Giving thanks, giving thanks,
         To God through Christ our Lord.
         Giving thanks, giving thanks,
         To God through Christ our Lord.

Christian musicians and worship leaders always remember to live a life of daily giving thanks as you prepare to lead your people in worship by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Thanks be to God!

Students at Jubilee College of Music, JCM, recently held an online meeting with the dean of the school Dr. Merril Smoak. Though students were not able to take in-person classes for several quarters, the meeting united their hearts together once again as they came to share the word of God and receive encouragement.

Dr. Smoak opened the meeting by greeting students from Riverside, San Francisco, and St. Louis campuses. He gave a short lecture about music in the Old Testament. Reading three scriptures from 1 Samuel 10:5-7, 2 Kings 3:9-19, and 2 Chronicles 5:11:14, Dr. Smoak explained how music was used in worship.

Music is a way to connect the spirit of God, deliver a message from God, and give praise and thanks to the Lord. Looking at 120 music ministers in 2 Chronicles, students could imagine how big and significant music was in the worship service in that era. Dr. Smoak encouraged students to be filled by the Holy Spirit to develop our worship music in the Church today.

The gathering ended with Dr. Smoak’s closing prayer. JCM hopes to organize all-student meetings with the Dean regularly to better acquaint students and unite well.

The conducting class offered by Jubilee College of Music this Winter trains music students to be excellent choir directors.

Conducting is a body language that indicates musicians how to perform the music together. It is an essential technique for all music ministers because the choral ensemble has an important role in church worship.

The class so far focused on postures. The foundations of right and left hand techniques show consistent beating patterns in steady tempos, give clear cues for entry, phrasing, tempo changing, and dynamics. The study will extend to understanding music, preparing scores, leading rehearsals, and more.

Though students may be limited in applying their skills in actual ensemble rehearsals due to the pandemic, the use of digital media during class helps fill in the gap in practicing.