This week we have looked at the Prophets, those 16 books at the end of the Old Testament that told the story of how God’s representatives, the prophets, spoke truth to power. So many songs are related to these books but possibly one of the most famous is Handel’s “Messiah” first presented in Dublin April 13, 1742. It was written by George Frideric Handel, a child musical genius, who actually didn’t write The Messiah til age 64. The opening comes from the book of Isaiah. The Messiah has become one of the best known and most frequently played pieces of orchestral music, especially around Christmas time. It opens with Isaiah’s prophecy, Isaiah 40:1-5.
Comfort ye
Comfort ye my people
Comfort ye
Comfort ye my people
Saith your God
Saith your God
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem
And cry unto her
That her warfare
Her warfare is accomplished
That her iniquity is pardoned
That her iniquity is pardoned
The voice of Him
That crieth in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way of the Lord
Make straight in the desert
A highway for our God
The Messiah closes with the “Hallelujah Chorus” performed in this fun clip by the Silent Monks. Enjoy!
On the Way to Wonder 