Handel's Messiah is his best-known musical composition. Though now associated with Christmas, this masterpiece was originally intended for performance at Easter. The scriptural lyrics were selected by Charles Jennens, an Oxford-educated literary scholar and friend of Handel's. After Handel composed the music, the oratorio premiered in Dublin as a benefit for men in debtor's prison. When it was played a year later in London, King George II was in attendance, and when he rose for the Hallelujah Chorus he began a tradition that endures to this day.
Messiah tells the same story as the Servant Songs of Isaiah, the story of a Savior who suffered and died for the sins of the world. The alternate shorter reading for today is the second Servant Song. The emphasis here is on the special call and mission of the Servant. The scope of His mission is the entire world. Just Israel was not enough—the Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the ends of the earth (v. 6). Distant nations are summoned to hear this prophecy, for it applies to “every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9).
What will the Servant do? “He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,” a phrase that indicates both revelation and rulership (v. 2; cf. Rev. 1:16). He is the One in whom God will display His glory; that is, in Him the promises to Israel will be fulfilled and in Him God's plan of redemption will climax (v. 3). Even though He'll be “despised and abhorred,” God will raise Him up; kings will bow down before Him (v. 7).
Although the Servant's mission won't be limited to Israel, the nation will be restored, and the rest of chapter 49 dwells on this. God could no more abandon Israel than a mother could forget her child (v. 15). The captives will be freed and restored to their covenant land and relationship, for “those who hope in [the Lord] will not be disappointed” (v. 23).
posted by I love Jesus! ! ! @ Saturday, June 23, 2007
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