Declaration of Truth
Wednesday, December 1
Declaration of Truth
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Handel’s Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in the early 1700’s by George Frideric Handle and is frequently referred to as ‘the Christmas music’. It was first performed in Dublin and then in London. After an initially modest public reception, the musical composition gained in popularity, eventually becoming one of the best-known and most frequently performed choral works in Western music. It is such a clear affirmation of biblical truth, line after line of scripture sung out with passion, as Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah are interwoven with the Gospel accounts of Jesus. There is a special crescendo in the singing, as the words of Isaiah 9:6 are voiced with clarity and confidence, almost daring anyone in the audience to argue with these eternal truths. It must be a wonder to be present for this performance.
Looking into is composition I discovered, Handel worked on the music in a frenzy of inspiration, neither eating nor sleeping properly until the work was finished after twenty-four days. The words, all from Scripture, were compiled a short while before by Charles Jennings who, at the time of the work, was troubled by society’s eroding belief in the divinity of Christ.
Jesus came to the earth to make known the Triune God of the universe, the Father, the Counsellor, the Prince of Peace, and to make it possible for every human being to be reconciled to Him. His claim to be one with the Father can only be considered as either true or utterly preposterous; either He is the Son of God or the biggest fraud that has ever existed. The choice is there for everyone, not least as we approach this Christmas season.
I, for one, choose to declare again, in agreement with Scripture, that Jesus the Messiah is indeed Almighty God!