www.touchet1611.org
The
entire King James Bible is written FOR us, but it is not all written TO
us!
We
learn from the "For" and study Paul's writings to apply the 'TO!"
Sermon
Notes
December
14, 2008
Rightly
Dividing Christmas
Messiah
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Handel / Jennens
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Messiah is an oratorio* by George Frideric Handel based on a libretto/text/words
by Pastor Charles Jennens.
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Composed in the summer of 1741 and premiered in Dublin on the 13 April
1742.
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Messiah is Handel's most famous creation and is among, if not 'thee' the
most popular work in Western choral literature.
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*Oratorio - A musical composition for voices and orchestra, telling
a sacred story without costumes, scenery, or dramatic action.
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Judas MacCabaeus - Handel
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The Creation - Joseph Haydn
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Elijah - Felix Mendelssohn
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Protestant composers took their material from the Bible while Catholic
composers wrote about the lives of their saints.
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Note: No "The" in the title
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Although Handel called his oratorio simply Messiah (without the "The"),
the work is also widely referred to as The Messiah.
Testimony of Jesus Christ
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The name of the oratorio is taken from Judaism and Christianity's concept
of the Messiah ("the anointed one").
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In Christianity,of course, the Messiah is Jesus.
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In Judaism, they believe that their 'anointed one' has not come yet.
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The work is a presentation of Jesus' life and its significance according
to Christian doctrine.
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The work is divided into three parts which address specific events in the
life of Christ.
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Part One is primarily concerned with the Advent and Christmas stories
- the prophecy, the birth and life.
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Part Two chronicles Christ's crucifixion, resurrection, ascension,
and the evangelization to the world of the Christian message.
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However, not with the way of the Risen Lord through Paul's teachings!
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Part Three is based primarily upon the events chronicled in The
Revelation.
Mostly Sung During Christmas
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Although the work was conceived and first performed for secular theater
during Lent it has become common practice since Handel's death to perform
Messiah during Advent, the preparatory period of the Christmas season,
rather than in Lent or at Easter.
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Messiah is now often performed in churches as well as in concert halls.
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Has the music ministry become a music performance and entertainment production
hall?
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Christmas concerts often feature only the first section of Messiah plus
the "Hallelujah" chorus, although some ensembles feature the entire work
as a Christmas concert.
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The work is also heard at Easter, and selections containing resurrection
themes are often included in Easter services.
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The third part is most often ignored - totally!
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The resurrection includes us, too!
Composition and premiere
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24 days
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In the summer of 1741 Handel, at the peak of his musical prowess but depressed
and in debt, began setting Charles Jennens' Biblical libretto to music
at his usual breakneck speed. In just 24 days, Messiah was complete.
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Premiere
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It was premiered during the following season, in the spring of 1742, as
part of a series of charity concerts in Neal's Music Hall on Fishamble
Street near Dublin's Temple Bar district.
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Right up to the day of the premiere, Messiah was troubled by production
difficulties and last-minute rearrangements of the score, and the Dean
of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Jonathan Swift, placed some pressure on the
premiere and had it canceled entirely for a period.
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He demanded that it be retitled A Sacred Oratorio and that revenue from
the concert be promised to local hospitals for the mentally ill.
Music often simplified to be playable for others
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Handel conducted Messiah many times and, as was his custom, often altered
the music to suit the needs of the singers and orchestra he had available
to him for each performance.
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In consequence, no single version can be regarded as the "authentic" one.
Texts and structure
The libretto (text) was compiled by Charles Jennens and consists of fragments
of verses mostly from the King James Bible.
Almost word for word to a King James Bible
Words of Christ in the KJB when Christ is speaking of
himself are changed to he, him, etc.
It is in a third person narration
There are a few paraphrased words & verses.
Allelujah changed to Hallelujah
Part I: The Birth
Scene 1: The prophecy of
Salvation
Scene 2: The prophecy of
the coming of the Messiah
Scene 3: The importance
to the world at large
Scene 4: Prophecy of the
Virgin Birth
Scene 5: The appearance
of the Angel to the shepherds
Scene 6: Christ's miracles
Part II: The Crucifixion
Scene 1: The sacrifice, the
scourging and agony on the cross
Scene 2: His death, His
passing through Hell, and His resurrection
Scene 3: His Ascension
Scene 4: God discloses His
identity in Heaven
Scene 5: The beginning of
evangelism
Scene 6: The world and its
rulers reject the Gospel
Scene 7: God's triumph
Part III: The Aftermath
Scene 1: The promise of redemption
from Adam's fall
Scene 2: Judgment Day
Scene 3: The victory over
death and sin
Scene 4: The glorification
of Christ
Scriptural Texts
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Much of the libretto (words) comes from the Old Testament.
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The first section draws heavily from the book of Isaiah,
which prophesies the coming of the Messiah.
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There are few quotations from the Gospels;
these are at the end of the first and the beginning of the second sections.
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They comprise the Angel going to the shepherds in Luke,
two quotations from Matthew, and one from
John:
"Behold the Lamb of God".
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The rest of the second section is composed of prophecies from Isaiah
and quotations from the evangelists.
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The third section includes one quotation from Job
("I know that my Redeemer liveth"), the rest primarily from First
Corinthians.
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Note: the use of choruses from the New Testament's Revelation.
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The well-known "Hallelujah" chorus at the end of Part II and the
finale chorus "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" are both taken
from Revelation.
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Almost word for word to a King James Bible
-
Words of Christ in the KJB when Christ is speaking of himself are changed
to he, him, etc.
-
It is in a third person narration
-
A few paraphrased verses.
-
Allelujah changed to Hallelujah
For the Musicians in our Web Family
Messiah is scored for SATB soloists, SATB chorus, 2 oboes, bassoon,
2 trumpets, timpani, strings, and basso continuo. The Mozart arrangement
expands the orchestra to 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2
horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, strings, and organ. In 1959, Sir
Thomas Beecham conducted a larger arrangement by Eugene Goossens for the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra which expands the instrumentation to 3 flutes
(one doubling on piccolo), 4 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon,
4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, and
strings; this edition is most often heard today in recordings.
Aria - a solo vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment.
Recitative - a narrative passage in an oratorio, reflecting
the natural rhythms of speech.
Text-painting
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Handel is famous for employing text painting -- the musical technique of
having the melody mimic its lyrics -- in many of his works.
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On the lyric "...and every mountain and hill made low; the crooked straight
and the rough places plain", Handel composes it thus:
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The notes climb to the high F# on the first syllable of mountain
to drop an octave on the second syllable.
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The four notes on the word hill form a small hill, and the
word low descends to the lowest note of the phrase.
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On crooked, the melody twice alternates between C# and B
to rest on the B for two beats through the word straight.
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The word plain is written, for the most part, on the high
E for three measures, with some minor deviation.
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He applies the same strategy throughout the repetition of the final phrase:
the crooked being crooked and plain
descending on three lengthy planes.
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He uses this technique frequently throughout the rest of the aria, specifically
on the word exalted, which contains several sixteenth note
(semiquaver) melismas and two leaps to a high E:
Suffix
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As was common in English-language poetry at the time, the suffix -ed of
the past tense and past participle of weak verbs was often pronounced as
a separate syllable as in this passage from "And the Glory of the Lord:"
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The word revealed would thus be pronounced in three syllables: [re-veel-ed].
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When we sing, "I Know Whom I Have Believed" - we sing 'be-leev-ed.'
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in fact, now when we say the word, we say it the same, 'be-leev-ed.'
Self-plagiarzing
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It should, however, be noted that though Messiah is often pointed at as
being rife with examples of text painting, Handel was particularly fond
of plagiarizing himself and some of the arias and choruses in Messiah are
taken directly from material he originally penned in other works.
Hallelujah Chorus
The most famous movement is the "Hallelujah" chorus, which concludes
the second of the three parts.
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No 'The' in the title, either.
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Because this piece is so often heard separately from the rest of Messiah,
it has become popularly known as "The Hallelujah Chorus", which, like "The
Messiah", is not entirely correct usage. "(the) Hallelujah chorus" or "'Hallelujah'
chorus from Messiah" is more appropriate.
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The text is drawn from three passages in the New Testament book of Revelation:
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Revelation 19:6 - And
I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of
many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia:
for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
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Revelation 11:15 - And
the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying,
The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
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Revelation 19:16 - And
he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS,
AND LORD OF LORDS.
Tradition of Standing
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In many parts of the world, it is the accepted practice for the audience
to stand for this section of the performance.
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Tradition has it that King George II rose to his feet at this point.
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As the first notes of the triumphant Hallelujah Chorus rang out, the king
rose.
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Royal protocol has always demanded that whenever the monarch stands, so
does everyone in the monarch's presence.
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Thus, the entire audience stood too, initiating a tradition that has lasted
more than two centuries.
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Humble King
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As was and is the custom, one stands in the presence of royalty as a sign
of respect.
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The Hallelujah chorus clearly places Christ as the King of Kings.
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In standing, King George II accepts that he too is subject to Lord of Lords.
Handel's Messiah
George Frederic Handel (1695-1759)
Titles and Scripture References
Almost word for word to a King James Bible
Words of Christ in the KJB when Christ is speaking of
himself are changed to he, him, etc.
It is in a third person narration
There are a few paraphrased words & verses.
Allelujah changed to Hallelujah
Part I
(1) Overture
(2) Comfort Ye
Isaiah 40:1-3
(3) Every Valley
Isaiah 40:4
(4) And the Glory of the Lord
Isaiah 40:5
(5) Thus saith the Lord
Haggai 2:6,7
Malachi 3:11
(6) But who may abide the Day of His Coming?
Malachi 3:2
(7) And He shall Purify
Malachi 3:3
(8) Behold A Virgin Shall Conceive
Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23)
(9) O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Isaiah 40:9
Isaiah 60:1
(10) For behold, darkness shall cover the earth
Isaiah 60:2,3
(11) The people that walked in darkness
Isaiah 9:2 (Matthew 3:16)
For unto Us a Child is born
Isaiah 9:6
(13) Pastoral Symphony
(14) There were shepherds abiding in the field
Luke 2:8
Luke 2:9
(15) And the Angel said unto them
Luke 2:10,11
(16) And suddenly there was with the Angel
Luke 2:13
(17) Glory to God
Luke 2:14
(18) Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Zechariah 9:9,10 (Matthew 21:5)
(19) Then shall the eyes of the blind
Isaiah 35:5,6
(20) He shall feed his flock like a shepherd
Isaiah 40:11
Matthew 11:28, 29 28
(21) His yoke is easy
Matthew 11:30
Part II
(22) Behold the lamb of God
John 1:29
(23) He was despised
Isaiah 53:3
(24) Surely He hath borne our griefs
Isaiah 53:4,5
(25) And with His stripes we are healed
Isaiah 53:5b
(26) All we like sheep have gone astray
Isaiah 53:6
(27) All they that see him laugh him to scorn
Psalm 22:7
(28) He trusted in God
Psalm 22:8 (Matthew 27:43)
(29) Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
Psalm 69:20
(30) Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Lamentations 1:12
(31) He was cut off out of the land of the living
Isaiah 53:8b
(32) But Thou didst not leave His soul in hell
Psalm 16:10 (Acts 2:27)
(33) Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Psalm 24:7-10
(34) Unto which of the angels said He at any time
Hebrews 1:5 (Psalm 2:7)
(35) Let all the angels of God worship Him
Hebrews 1:6b
(36) Thou art gone up on high
Psalm 68:18 (Ephesians 4:8)
(37) The Lord gave the word
Psalm 68:11
(38) How beautiful are the feet
Romans 10:15 (Isaiah 52:7)
(39) Their sound is gone out
Romans 10:18 (Psalm 19:4)
(40) Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
Psalm 2:1,2 (Acts 4:25-26)
(41) Let us break their bonds asunder
Psalm 2:3
(42) He that dwelleth in heaven
Psalm 2:4
(43) Thou shalt break them
Psalm 2:9
(44) Hallelujah
Revelation 19:6
Part III
(45) I know that my redeemer liveth
Job 19:25, 26
(46) Since by man came death
I Corinthians 15:21,22
(47) Behold I tell you a mystery
I Corinthians 15:51,52
(48) The trumpet shall sound
I Corinthians 15:52b-53
(49) Then shall be brought to pass
I Corinthians 15:54b (Isaiah 25:8)
(50) O death where is thy sting?
I Corinthians 15:55-56 (Hosea 13:14)
(51) But thanks be to God
1 Corinthians 15:57 57
(52) If God be for us
Romans 8:31, 33, 34
(53) Worthy is the Lamb
Revelation 5:12, 13
Scriptures
Only
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Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your
God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare
is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned. . . .
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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.
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Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain
and hill made low, the crooked straight, and the rough places plain.
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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.
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Thus saith the Lord of Hosts; Yet once, a little
while and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the
dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall
come
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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.
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But who may abide the day of His coming?
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and who shall stand when He appeareth?
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For He is like a refiner's fire.
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And He shall purify the sons of Levi. . . that
they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
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Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a
Son, and shall call his name EMMANUEL, God with us.
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O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get
thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem,
lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, and be not afraid; say unto
the cities of Judah, Behold your God.
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Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the
glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
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For, behold, 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. And the Gentiles shall come to
thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
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The people that walked in darkness have seen
a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death,
upon them hath the light shined.
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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.
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There were shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flocks by night.
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And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them,
and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
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And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
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For unto you is born this day in the city of
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
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And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will toward men.
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Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout,
O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee.
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He is the righteous Savior. .
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And he shall speak peace unto the heathen.
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Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
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Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and
the tongue of the dumb shall sing.
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He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; and
he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and
shall gently lead those that are with young.
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Come unto [Him], all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and [He shall give you rest.
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Take [his] yoke upon you, and learn of [Him];
for [he is] meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
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[His] yoke is easy, and [his burden is light.
Part II
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Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the
sins of the world.
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He is despised and rejected of men: a man of
sorrows, and acquainted with grief. . .
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[He]gave [His] back to the smiters, and [His]
cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: [He] hid not [His] face from
shame and spitting.
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Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows. . . .
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He was wounded for our transgressions, he was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him,
and with His stripes we are healed.
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All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity
of us all.
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All they that see [him] laugh [him] to scorn:
they shoot out their lips, they shake their heads, saying: He trusted [in
God] that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, if he delight in him.
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[Thy] rebuke hath broken [his] heart; [He is]
full of heaviness. [He]looked for some to have pity [on Him], but there
was none; neither found [He] any to comfort [Him].
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Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like
unto [his] sorrow. . . he was cut off out of the land of the living: for
the transgression of [Thy] people was He stricken.
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[But] thou [didst] not leave [his] soul in
hell; neither [didst] thou suffer Thy Holy One to see corruption.
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Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift
up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
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Who is the King of Glory?
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The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty
in battle.
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Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift
up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in.
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Who is the King of Glory?
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The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.
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For unto which of the angels said He at any
time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee?
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"Let all the angels of God worship Him."
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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.
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The Lord gave the word: great was the company
of [the preachers].
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How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
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...their sound is gone out into all lands,
and their words unto the ends of the world.
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Why do the heathen rage, 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,
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Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast
away their yokes from us.
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He that dwelleth in the heavens shall laugh
them to scorn; the Lord shall have them in derision.
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Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou
shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
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Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
... the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and
of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever . . . KING OF KINGS,
LORD OF LORDS.
Part III
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I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He
shall stand on the latter day upon the earth: And though worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
-
[For] now is Christ risen from the dead. .
. the firstfruits of them that [sleep].
-
Since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.
-
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall
all be made alive.
-
Behold, I tell you a mystery:
-
We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be
changed, In a moment, in a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet;
the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we shall be changed.
-
For this corruptible must put on incorruption,
and this mortal must put on immortality.
-
then shall be brought to pass the saying that
is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
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O death, where is thy sting?
-
O grave where is thy victory?
-
The sting of death is sin; and the strength
of sin is the law.
-
But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
-
If God be for us, who can be against us?
-
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's
elect?
-
It is God that justifieth.
-
Who is he that condemneth?
-
It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for
us.
-
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing
-
Blessing, and honour, glory and power, be unto
Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Amen