I remember the first time I heard Handel’s Messiah - it was at the Centre in the Square, with my sister, and we had driven our 90 year old aunt to the performance. Our aunt bought the tickets. I was not familiar with any of the music except the Hallelujah Chorus - of course! And...I was not a huge fan of classical choral music at the time. Just an aside - the Philharmonic Choir is outstanding. And so, much to my surprise, as the music began, I realized - hey, they are singing scripture. That night when I got home, I looked through my program, took out my Bible and read a selection of them.
Job 19:25
“But as for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.”
Isaiah 9:6
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Rev 11:15
Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”
Rev 19: 6, 16
“Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.”
End of story that year.
Fast forward...my awareness of God’s Presence - Emmanuel - and recognizing what that felt like for me was on the increase. When He is close, I feel this pressure on my head, like when someone puts their hand gently on top of your head, and I feel something like little electric pulses around my head. It’s hard to explain. I am again sitting in the Centre in the Square listening to Handel’s Messiah. And He is there - I sense His Presence - Emmanuel - God with me. And as the audience rises to their feet during the Hallelujah Chorus, my spirit is rejoicing, my heart is bursting and I just want to raise my hands and my voice in worship!! My whole being is so very aware of Emmanuel - God with me.
Emmanuel - God with me is not just for Advent, for Christmas, or Sunday morning. Advent is this season of waiting, of expectation, of hope and is for me a reminder of my God who was, who is and always will be Emmanuel - God with us. God with me. God with you.
“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives.”
Written by: Cathy Linseman
I love it when the symbols of the season draw us nearer to God! It is great that each year crowds of people listen to the Hallelujah Chorus, and they are listening to Scripture!