Handel's Messiah has three parts. Part I describes the expectations, birth and life of the Messiah. Part II covers the death and resurrection of the Messiah. Part III expresses the victory of the Messiah and its benefits for those who trust in Him. By the way, Handel wrote the music for Messiah but it was Charles Jennens who selected and arranged the Bible passages that form the libretto for the oratorio.
For the past few days of the Easter week, I've been sharing the lyrics to part II of the Messiah and so here goes to track 36-39.
With the Messiah's resurrection, what next?
Psalm 68:18 (Ephesians 4:8)
Thou art gone up on high, Thou hast led captivity captive, and received gifts for men; yea, even for Thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
This part is an Air for Alto and the voice and words invoke the imagery of an ancient triumphal procession.
When an army wins a battle, they come home to a victory celebration and the conqueror who led them brings home the spoils of war and gives them to the people. Those captured in battle are also paraded.
There are many metaphors to describe the mission of Jesus: bringing light to a dark world, finding the lost sheep, helping the blind to see, giving living water to the thirsty and many more and in this case, the image is a military one of doing battle to free us from captivity.
Whatever metaphor one chooses to describe it, this is all Good News!!
The Chorus appropriately then sings ...
Psalm 68:11
The Lord gave the word: great was the company of [the preachers].
An aria for Soprano then extols the beauty of these messengers ...
Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7)
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
The Chorus then returns to joyously tell that these preachers go to all the world!
Romans 10:18 (Psalm 19:4)
their sound is gone out into all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world.
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