The phrase "Far as the curse is found" is from the popular Christmas carol "Joy to the World." It is a line that holds great theological significance and carries a message of hope and redemption. The curse refers to the original sin and fall of humanity in the biblical narrative, where Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden. As a result of their disobedience, sin and its consequences entered into the world, affecting all of creation. The curse symbolizes the brokenness, pain, suffering, and separation from God that resulted from this initial act of disobedience. However, the phrase "Far as the curse is found" is followed by the words "He comes to make His blessings flow.
However, the phrase "Far as the curse is found" is followed by the words "He comes to make His blessings flow." This indicates that despite the presence of the curse, God's love and grace are not restricted by it. The lyric suggests that Jesus, through his birth and subsequent sacrifice, came to earth to redeem humanity from the curse of sin and restore the broken relationship between God and humanity.
Joy to the World — Far as the Curse Is Found
“Joy to the World” is a Christmas carol that proclaims a biblical worldview. This is the third post on Isaac Watts’ famous hymn which is based on Psalm 98. The lyrics of this hymn reflect a biblical worldview, a worldview that brings honor to God in all that we do. The first part of this worldview has to do with the joyful anticipation of Christ’s rule. The second part encourages us to delight in the ongoing reign of our Savior. This third element of the worldview acknowledges that there is much wrong with the world. Here is the third verse:
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…
There is trouble on Planet Earth. Read the newsfeeds, listen to the news alerts. The sexual revolution has led to sexual revulsion! Just as it was with our first parents God’s truth is exchanged daily for lies, despicable lies. Sin has been woven into the fabric of life. All the earth has been ravaged by Adam’s lack of faith. We can turn nowhere in life that the curse on our planet is not found. But even in the midst of these ugly realities there is the faithful promise of the ruling King. He comes to make his blessings flow. Not because we deserve his blessing, but simply because He delights to give them. Psalm 98 acknowledges truth with profound relief and joy:
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the LORD, the King.
Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;…
It is often true: life is hard. Good deeds are rewarded with tragedy. Purity is exchanged for debauchery. Our planet reels from the selfish indulgence of people who use it for their own purposes. Beauty and death go hand-in-hand in the wilderness of earth. But the psalmist rejoices that where sorrows, sins, and thorns have reigned, Jesus comes to make his blessings flow. The seas, the rivers, the mountains—all of the earth has been subjected to the horrors of Adam’s wretched choice. This third element of our worldview, expressed in verse 3 of the Carol, acknowledges what is wrong, but it also revels in the rule of the King who makes things right.
Now is the time for joy to resound as far as the curse is found—far as the curse is found!
This verse is one of the most powerful pictures, images, that we see in the Bible when it comes to our salvation. The reality is the law condemns us. God’s law condemns us, because it makes clear that we are sinners. Even our most concentrated attempts, our most wholehearted attempts, to obey the law come up short.
The line also signifies the universality and extent of Christ's redemptive work. It implies that the blessings brought by Jesus are not limited to a specific group of people or a particular place. Instead, Jesus came to offer redemption and salvation to all people, regardless of race, nationality, or social standing. The phrase emphasizes the all-inclusive nature of Christ's work, reaching to the farthest corners of the earth and all aspects of human experience. In summary, the phrase "Far as the curse is found" in the carol "Joy to the World" symbolizes the brokenness and consequences of sin in the world. However, it also emphasizes the redemptive work of Jesus, who came to bring blessings and restore the relationship between God and humanity. This line carries a message of hope that the love and grace of God can reach all people, no matter how far-reaching the curse may be..
Reviews for "From curse to blessing: Transforming the narrative of our lives"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I found "Far as the curse us found" to be incredibly dull and tedious. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, and the plot was slow and uninteresting. I struggled to connect with any of the characters or care about what happened to them. Overall, I was extremely disappointed with this book and would not recommend it.
2. John - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "Far as the curse us found" based on the reviews I had read, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. While the writing style was beautiful and the descriptions were vivid, the story itself failed to captivate me. I found the pacing to be slow and the world-building to be lacking. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.
3. Emily - 2 stars - "Far as the curse us found" was not my cup of tea. I found the writing to be excessively flowery and pretentious, which made it difficult for me to engage with the story. The characters felt contrived and their actions were often predictable. I also felt that the plot meandered too much and lacked a clear direction. Overall, I did not enjoy this book and would not recommend it to others.