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"...and the Fall Feast Days"
("MESSIAH" by George Frideric Handel")
"He was praying, or he was weeping, or he was staring
into eternity" -late summer, 1741
The Fall Feast Days
In the Fall season each year comes the time of the
God ordained Feast days; Rosh Hashanah (the feast of trumpets),
Yom Kippur (the day of atonement), and Sukkot (the feast of tabernacles).
It would require much study to examine the spiritual meaning of these
God ordained holy days, but to do so yields much blessing and deeper
insight into the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Handel's Messiah
George Frideric Handel's (1685-1759) "MESSIAH"- a
sacred music chorus, is one of the greatest tributes in music to Messiah Yeshua
ever heard. The level of worship and communion in the Spirit that may be reached
in listening, is a blessing known only to those who have. What is the connection
between these two items?
The Connection
Unfortunately, most of us who have heard Handel's "MESSIAH" have it presented to us
in "Christmas" and "Easter" portions. Because of this we begin to think of the work
as being written or released for those purposes. But in studying information about
the writing of "MESSIAH" we find that this is not the way it was inspired at all.
[1]
What did happen is that upon Handel's reading of God's word he was overcome in
his spirit by its power and began to write "MESSIAH" in his study beginning,
August 22nd, 1741. Several sources close to him [2] record that
Handel was so caught up in God's Spirit during the three weeks that it took him to
write "MESSIAH", that he actually locked himself within his study, refusing food
[3] and writing music amid periods of crying and moaning in that
same Spirit. Handel's servant testified:
"He was praying, or he was weeping, or he was staring
into eternity" -late summer, 1741
Another servant's testimony is that at the end of this three
week period Handel burst out of his study with tears in his
eyes and the MESSIAH script in his hand declaring, that he had
a great vision, and had seen God seated upon His throne;
"I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God
Himself seated on His throne, with his Company of Angels."
Timeframe of Inspiration
George Frideric Handel began writing the "MESSIAH" on August 22nd, 1741.
Twenty-four days (the duration of the writing) from that point would be (mid) September 14th.
Notice then that the MESSIAH choruses were written during the season of the Fall feast
days of that year, as Rosh Hashanah began on September 11th of 1741. [4]
So then, this is the time frame when the Spirit of God inspired Handel to write this work
to His glory. This, as opposed to a "Christmas" and "Easter" writing, each of which are
non-scriptural holidays, of pagan origin. [5]
Though usually presented during those events, it is clear that one may enjoy "MESSIAH"
all year long, and especially during these glorious feast days, ordained by our God
which reveal great truths about salvation in Jesus, the King.
Michael Stevenson
Salvation Station
www.circlegame.com
References:
(1) In other words, Handel did not sit down at "Christmas" and write the
"For Unto Us A Child is Born" chorus, then sit down at "Easter" and write
"I know that my Redeemer Liveth".
(2) http://www.tks.org/HANDEL/Messiah.htm
http://charlene.cyber-crew.com/holidays/messiah.html
http://www.intr.net/bleissa/handel/home.html
(3) fasting?
(4) try it yourself by downloading the "ALMANAC" program
from www.Impactsoft.com and using the
Jewish calendar tools.
(5)
www.circlegame.com/live/feast.htm
www.circlegame.com/live/easter.htm
CONTENTS: "MESSIAH"
I
Comfort Ye Tenor R
Every Valley shall be exalted Tenor
And the Glory Chorus Thus Saith The Lord Bass R
But who may Abide...His coming Alto
And He shall purify Chorus
Behold, a Virgin shall conceive Alto R
O thou that tellest good tidings Alto & Chorus
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth Bass R
The people that walked in darkness Bass
For unto us a Child is born Chorus
There were shepherds Soprano R
And lo, the angel Soprano R
And the angel said Soprano R
And suddenly there was with the Angel Soprano R
Glory to God Chorus
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion Soprano
Then shall the eyes of the blind... Alto R
He shall feed His flock Alto & Soprano
His yoke is easy Chorus
II
Behold the Lamb of God Chorus
He was despised Alto
Surely He has borne our griefs Chorus
And with His stripes Chorus
All we like sheep Chorus
All they that see him laugh... Tenor R
He trusted in God Chorus Thy rebuke has broken His Heart Tenor R
Behold and see...sorrow Tenor
He was cut off Soprano R
But Thou didst not leave His soul... Soprano
Lift up your heads, O ye gates Chorus Unto which of the angels Tenor R
Let all the angels worship Chorus Thou art gone up on high Alto
The Lord gave the word Chorus How beautiful are the feet Soprano
Their sound is gone out Chorus Why do the nations rage Bass
Let us break their bonds Chorus He that dwelleth in Heaven Tenor R
Thou shalt break them Tenor Hallelujah Chorus
III
I know that my Redeemer liveth Soprano
Since by man came death Chorus Behold, I show you a mystery Bass R
The trumpet shall sound Bass Then shall be brought to pass... Alto R
O death, where is thy sting Alto & Tenor But Thanks be to God Chorus
If God be for us Soprano Worthy is the Lamb -Amen- Chorus
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