handel’s messiah - 10ofthose.com · handel knew the bible, and was familiar with its dominant...

Whilst composing the Hallelujah chorusHandel’s assistant walked into his roomafter shouting for him for several minutes,but with no response. The assistant foundHandel in tears and, when asked what waswrong, Handel held up the score to themusic and said, “I did think I did see allheaven before me and the great GodHimself!” It took Handel just under threeweeks to compose Messiah. The Hallelujahchorus took only three days.

King George II was in attendance whenMessiah was first performed in London. Asthe first notes of the triumphant Hallelujahchorus rang out the king rose to his feetand remained standing until the end ofthe chorus. Following royal protocol,everyone else in the monarch’s presencestood, including the audience, chorus andorchestra, so beginning a tradition whichhas been continued for over two centuries.The Hallelujah chorus clearly places Jesusas the King of kings and Lord of lords, so itis right that even our royalty should standin His presence.

The great chorus is based on words in thefinal book of the Bible where we read,

With such a wonderful gospel message it isbewildering that nations and people stillreject the Lord Jesus. Handel took up thistheme too:

Handel feared that he would go blind, asthe composer Bach had done. Both wereoperated on by a charlatan oculist whotravelled throughout Europe, and bothcomposers went irrevocably blind. Hecontinued to work, conducting this greatpiece more than thirty times, and usually tosupport a hospital of which he was abenefactor. He conducted a lastperformance of Messiah a fortnight beforehe died on Easter Saturday April 14th 1759 inhis house in Mayfair. He had expressed thedesire to die on Good Friday certain “ofmeeting my good God, my sweet Lord andSaviour, on the day of His Resurrection.”

Above Handel’s grave in WestminsterAbbey is a monument where the musician’sstatue holds the musical score to the aria ‘Iknow that my Redeemer liveth.’

Go and hear Messiah. Enjoy and be blessed,but more, I encourage you to read the

Gospel of Luke or John and let Jesus re-introduce Himself to you. Then trust Him asyour Lord and Saviour. Ask Him who lovedyou and gave Himself for you on the cross,to forgive you. Receive the risen Jesus intoyour life to guide and keep you through life,death and into eternity.

Remember, one day

Are you able to say, ‘I know that myRedeemer lives. Hallelujah!’?1 Isaiah 53:6, 2 Psalm 2:9, 3 Isaiah 7:14, 4 Isaiah 9:6,5 John 1:29, 6 Isaiah 53:4 & 5 & 8, 7 Psalm 16:10,8 Matthew 11:28-29, 9 Revelation 19:6,10 Revelation 19:16, 11 Revelation 11:15, 12 Psalm 2:1-2,13 1 Corinthians 15:51-52.

By Roger Carswell

Atingling down

the spine, or tears rollingdown the cheeks is quite

normal for those whohear or participate in

Handel’s Messiah.

Handel’s

Messiah

For information about becoming a Christian orfor a copy of Johnʼs Gospel from the Bible, see

www.tell-me-more.org.

“Hallelujah! For our Lord GodAlmighty reigns,”9 and of the Kingof kings and Lord of lords,10 whowill reign for ever and ever.”11

“Why do the nations so furiouslyrage together, and why do thepeople imagine a vain thing? Thekings of the earth rise up, andthe rulers take counseltogether against the Lord,

and against His Anointed.”12“The trumpet shall sound, and thedead shall be raised incorruptible,and we shall be changed. Forthis corruptible must put onincorruption and this mortalshall put on immortality.”13

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Handel knew the Bible, and was familiarwith its dominant theme, that Messiahwould come.

Using the Bible, Messiah describes ourhuman plight:

We hear too that we deserve thejudgement of God:

But Handel knew that the Bible teachesthat God has given Himself as the answerto our sin and guilt. He has come into ourworld:

Jesus came to save us; He could only dothat by bearing in His own body the sin ofthe world, paying the eternal penalty inHis suffering on the cross:

He did study law for a short time at theUniversity of Halle but was soon appointed asthe Cathedral organist, though left both aftera short time to pursue a career in music. Hemoved to England in 1720 and was appointedcomposer to the Chapel Royal in 1723.

Despite great successes, life was full ofmisfortune, though he had an unshakeablefaith in Jesus. Writing after the death of hismother, he said, “It pleased the Almighty towhose great holy will I submit myself, withChristian submission.” A tall man, he wasknown as a devout believer full ofcompassion towards others, both in hiswillingness to forgive, and in his generosity,even when he had nothing himself.

By 1741 he gave what he said was his farewellconcert. His finances and health were in ruinsas he suffered from a kind of paralysis. A

few months later he was shown the text ofa long choral work – a libretto written byCharles Jennens – which followed the lifeof Christ. It contained the propheciesconcerning His birth, life, death and

resurrection, the blessings He would bringfor those who trust Him, as well as the

punishment for those who turn their back onHim. This fanned the creative fires in Handelagain, and Messiah was composed. It wasfirst performed in Dublin in 1742.

To attend a performance of Messiah is oneof life’s “must-do” experiences. It is a musicalmessage telling the story of “the AnointedOne”, Jesus the Messiah. Composed byGeorge Friedric Handel, it is loved by allwho appreciate all types of music the worldover. Handel said of the oratorio that hedid not merely want to entertain but tomake his listeners better people.

He was the son of a sixty-three year oldsurgeon-barber when he was born in Hallein Saxony on 23rd February, 1685. His fatherwas not at all musical and did notencourage his son’s talent for music. Butfrom the age of four George began to playthe clavichord, a gentle keyboardinstrument. Not until hewas seven did hisfather discover hisson’s talent, sothat later helearned theorgan,harpsichord,violin andoboe. Hisfather died afew days beforeGeorge’s twelfthbirthday and left thewish that he should be trained as a lawyer.

Then, describing Jesus rising from thedead:

Before giving us glimpses of heaven,Handel has Jesus’ invitation to us all:

“Thou shalt break them with arod of iron; thou shalt dashthem like a potter’s vessel.”2

“All we like sheep have gone astray;we have turned everyone to ourown way, and the Lord has laidon Him the iniquity of us all.”1

“A virgin shall conceive”3 for“Unto us a child is born, unto us ason is given, and His name shall becalled Wonderful, Counsellor,the Mighty God, the EverlastingFather, the Prince of Peace …”4

“Behold the Lamb of God, thattaketh away the sin of theworld.”5 “Surely He hathborn our griefs andcarried our sorrows, yetwe esteemed Him stricken,smitten by God, andafflicted. But He was woundedfor our transgressions, He wasbruised for our iniquities; thechastisement of our peace wasupon Him. And with His stripeswe are healed. He was cut offfrom the land of the living: forthe transgression of Thy peopleHe was stricken.”6

“But Thou didst not leave Hissoul in hell, nor didst Thousuffer Thy Holy One to seecorruption.”7

“Come unto Him, all ye thatlabour, come unto Him all thatare heavy laden, and He will give

you rest. Take His yoke upon you, and learn of Him, for He is meek and lowly of heart, and ye

shall find rest unto your souls.”8

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