Handels Messiah Week 5
Kevin Ireland

Handels Messiah Week 5

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Hallelujah Week 5 – The Text

The Bible and Handel’s Messiah

Why do the Nations Rage?

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
with trembling 12     kiss his feet,[a]
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear;
with trembling 12  kiss his feet,[a]
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Air for Bass

“Why do the nations so furiously rage together, and why do the people imagine a vain thing?

The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed.

Psalm 2:1-2 (modified)

Chorus

Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their yokes from us.

Psalm 2:3(modified)

Recitative for Tenor

He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psalm 2:4

Recitative for Tenor

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

Psalm 2:9 (modified)

Is God in control?

If God is in control, then why do things such terrible things keep happening?

Is God in control?

If so what’s going on?

The contrast between the reality of Psalm 2 and our reality is troubling

Handel does not hesitate to put the two together.

B/c Jesus crucifixion is evidence of the tragedy of this world – but Christ’s resurrection can change our perspective

The resurrection of JC is proof positive that the nations can rage all they want, but God is the one who is in charge.

Even in the midst of the worst tragedy – God is still working through miracles great and small – acts of kindness compassion caring love . .

we can and should put those tow contrasting realities side by side – It is the second reality (resurrection) that gives us courage to survive the reality of this world.

Let’s sing a mighty fortress