Today’s author is Pastor Walter Still.
Charles Morris in the article “Handel’s Messiah: Lyrics and Verse References” (Nov 20, 2020) wrote about this great work of music. The Messiah has been a significant work enjoyed by multitudes of people since it was composed in 1741. Morris wrote:
“In a time of rising secularism and humanism in England, Jennens was a member of the “Society for the Propagation of the Gospel” and a passionate evangelical believer. He believed that putting the gospel to music would communicate its truth, not just intellectually, but at a deep heart level. This libretto was made up entirely of Old and New Testament texts combined to present the entire Christian message in a single piece. When it was finished he took it to his friend, the great composer, George Handel. For 18 months the libretto sat on Handel’s shelf gathering dust until one day he took it down, dusted it off, and in three intense weeks, shut up in his flat on Brook Street, composed the oratorio that made the words come alive. He barely ate or slept; he was completely engulfed in the creation of this music—and he wasn’t alone. When he got to the Hallelujah chorus, his assistant found him in tears, saying, “I think I did see heaven open, and the very face of God.”
Several of the chorus have texts from Revelation, including the culmination chorus from Revelation 5.
Chorus– “Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19.6); “The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” (Revelation 11.15); “King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.” (Revelation 19.16) “Hallelujah!”
Chorus – “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and hath redeemed us to God by his blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” (Revelation 5.12–14) “Amen.”
The Book of Revelation—what gifts it has given to our world!
Pr Walter