Handel's Messiah

December 7, 2014 - Tonight we got together with friends to attend a long-anticipated Christmas presentation of Handel's "Messiah."  The concert presented the first act of the Messiah which covers the prophecies by the OT prophets of a coming Messiah. 
I’ve distributed a few of these prophetic passages throughout this post. 
It’s truly incredible to consider the generations of anticipation and mystery concerning the coming of the One who would come to save Israel.  However, what’s even more incredible is that the very Son of God would humble Himself to take on flesh and come to our little world in the form of a babe.  Wow.  Makes you want to jump to your feet and sing along to the Hallelujah Chorus!

Having fun around the table during dinner before heading for the concert

Ah…Presbyterian churches…

  

1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her,

that her warfare is accomplished,

that her iniquity is pardoned:

for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.

3 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.

4 Every valley shall be exalted,

and every mountain and hill shall be made low:

and the crooked shall be made straight,

and the rough places plain:

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

6 For thus saith the LORD of hosts;

Yet once, it is a little while,

and I will shake the heavens,

and the earth,

and the sea,

and the dry land;

7 And I will shake all nations,

and the desire of all nations shall come:

and I will fill this house with glory,

saith the LORD of hosts.

- Haggai 2

1 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:

and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple,

even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in:

behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

2 But who may abide the day of his coming?

and who shall stand when he appeareth?

for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver:

and he shall purify the sons of Levi,

and purge them as gold and silver,

that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

- Malachi 3

9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings,

get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings,

lift up thy voice with strength;

lift it up, be not afraid;

say unto the cities of Judah,

Behold your God!

- Isaiah 40

1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come,

and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,

and gross darkness the people:

but the LORD shall arise upon thee,

and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,

and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

- Isaiah 60

2 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

For unto us a child is born,

unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder:

and his name shall be called

Wonderful,

Counsellor,

The mighty God,

The everlasting Father,

The Prince of Peace.

- Isaiah 9:6