Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 11

“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”
(Isaiah 9:2)

Roger Bullard’s commentary on this text, sung by the bass soloist, highlights the dichotomy between darkness and light.  He writes, “The music is painful; it gropes. It moves hesitantly, like one reaching about in the darkness. But all this ends with solid footing finally found: ‘upon them hath the light shined.’” 

Jesus described himself and those who would follow him as the light of the world.  Darkness is defeated!

Prayer: Help us Lord to step out of the darkness into the glorious light of Christ. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 10

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come,

and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.”

(Isaiah 60:1)

 

Famed eighteenth century composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, revered the work of Handel, particularly “Messiah.”  In 1789 he was asked to re-orchestrate Handel’s great work, doing so as a complement to the man whose music he said, “strikes like a thunderbolt.”

 

Indeed, the light of Christ strikes the darkness like a thunderbolt.  Glory to God!

 

Prayer: Light of the World, shine in and through us this day. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 9

“Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear

 a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

(Isaiah 7:14)

 

In the aftermath of judgment, there is hope as the alto soloist sings these great words from the prophet.  Gospel writer Matthew cites Isaiah 7:14, then translates the term Immanuel…”God with us.”  Presence is a vital aspect of relationship.  This is the wonderful news of Christmas…God has come to be with us. 

 

Prayer: Present God, in your nearness, may we find strength for today. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 6

“But who may abide the day of his coming? And who

 shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire,”

(Malachi 3:2)

Few if any of us appreciate the significance of judgment unless it is meted out to someone else we think deserving. The inclusion of this text from Malachi as sung by the bass soloist, reminds the listener that there is an accountability, an expectation of God’s human creation. Roger Bullard writes, “Any age…that thinks the God of justice is absent has a surprise in store—the terrifying prospect of his appearance.  Yet, his coming in judgment is not annihilating, but refining.” 

Prayer:  Eternal God, may your refining work, cleanse and renew our hearts today.  Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 5

“And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh

shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

(Isaiah 40:5)

There is that moment of wonder that often comes when something so eagerly anticipated is suddenly realized.  The tenor’s words of encouragement give way to the chorus’s entrance to the oratorio as they proclaim the glorious news of Isaiah 40:5.  Here, the good news is that God’s promise will be fulfilled.  The anticipation of Advent will give way to the realization of the Christ Child’s birth.

Prayer: Faithful God, in this season of anticipation, may the joy of the coming Christ be revealed in us.  Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 4

“Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain

and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall

become level, and the rough places a plain.”

(Isaiah 40:4)

Roger Bullard, in his book, Messiah: The Gospel According to Handel’s Oratorio, speaks of the power of these opening words from Isaiah, sung by the tenor soloist. Bullard writes, “Herein is the hope: God will yet act.” That news bears repeating again and again and again…

Prayer: Lord, as we walk on uneven, rough places today, may your Spirit lift us up, for you will yet act.” Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional…Handel’s Messiah, December 3

“Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her that she has served her term,

that her penalty is paid, that she has received

from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”

(Isaiah 40:2)

In the Dublin premiere of Handel’s Messiah in 1742, one of the female soloists, known to have lived a rather colorful life, reportedly sang so beautifully that a local clergyman stood to his feet and cried out, “Woman, for this be all thy sins forgiven thee!”

The Christ Child’s coming reminds us that the penalty for sin has been paid. Glory to God!

Prayer: Let us hear again and again O God, these words of blessing…“your penalty is paid.”  Amen.

Jim Abernathy