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Monday, September 8, 2008

Getting a Handel on Things

So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture Will give thanks to Thee forever; To all generations we will tell of Thy praise. Psalms 79:13 (New American Standard Bible)



I got a CD of Handel’s “Messiah” for my birthday recently. I hadn’t listened to this magnificent musical work in years but as I listened to it again I was immediately caught up in its beauty. Handel composed this work in 24 days during the summer of 1741. He became so caught up in the work that he slept and ate very little during the time he was writing. His own household servants reported that at various times as they brought him food he would be so moved by the theme of redemption by the Messiah that he would be sobbing as he composed this glorious oratorio. Listening to it again I can see why he was so moved. I get that way at times, so moved by just the wonderful love and grace of Christ I never deserved but was freely given anyway.

I sometimes get so caught up in finding a biblical truth that I miss letting my mind run free in simple meditation on the Messiah and the worship that naturally follows. This kind of worship has risen in the souls of many saints for the past 2000 years. Every once in a while we get to hear a treasure like Handel’s “Messiah” and be swept up in the euphoria of one Saint’s praise and worship to the One True and Living God. It is pure adoration as the words and music lift us to One who is purer and fairer than we can imagine and in whom is absolutely no shadow. Nothing beats the full electrical energy of praising the God who is Almighty. This promise is fulfilled in every Saint from one generation to the next.

At the establishment of the literal and eternal kingdom of God there are millions and millions of Saints of all nations and languages who lift up an anthem of praise to the Lamb of God who has taken away their sin. The good news of God’s great love and redemptive plan given to every tribe and tongue and passed down from generation to new generation will be celebrated throughout eternity. Every believer from every age will be in that grand group (Revelation 19:5, 6) from the Psalmist David who cried “Let all who has breath praise the Lord" to George Frederick Handel who composed such electrifying praise of his Messiah. We have occasional jolts of that current now in the awe and praise of our Mighty God. Imagine what it will be like as we stand together in our new bodies in a new kingdom and raise an anthem of praise to Handel’s Messiah that will vibrate the foundations of heaven. Let all who has breath praise the Lord indeed.

Ken

www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com

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