Hallelujah—judgement!

I’ve been reading and enjoying David Ould’s series of posts on Handel’s oratorio ‘Messiah’ (David’s got plenty to say on the subject; make sure you check his archives.) If you get the chance to hear it this Christmas—better, to sing it—grab it with both hands. Even if you’re not a classical music buff, it is one of the most stirring introductions to biblical theology you are likely to come across in this present evil age.

The piece everyone knows from Messiah is the Hallelujah chorus. Check this version on YouTube, which really only needs a bouncing ball for you to be able to sing along for yourself. It is terrific. But when you sing or hear it in context, you realize something else quite remarkable: the praise of God that runs through this piece does not come like creation out of the blue, from nothing, ex nihilo. It comes in response to a tenor solo that quotes Psalm 2:9: “ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Those who believe the Bible’s severest words of judgment are reserved for those who count themselves religious insiders probably haven’t read Psalm 2 lately!)

Charles Jennens, the man who chose the Bible verses for Handel’s music, chose to put this verse from Psalm 2 at this precise point, just before the massed choir bursts into a song of praise. In Handel’s oratorio, it comes after many other Bible verses explaining how Jesus died for sin and rose again from the dead. In his resurrection, he was crowned “King of Glory”. Now, as the ascended King of creation, he smashes his enemies to pieces—as prophesied by the Psalmist.

When you take your friends to hear ‘Messiah’ and they stand in accordance with the tradition of this piece, ask them afterwards if they realize that they were standing to celebrate and honour the one who will utterly destroy any who oppose his will. The conversation, God willing, could lead you all the way back to the gospel of grace.

This message of triumphant judgement comes not just as the message of one inspired composer. It comes from the pages of Scripture, which is a book of God’s glory in judgement followed by God’s glory in grace. Check the words for yourself, find them in context in your Bible, and sing ‘Hallelujah’ to our mighty King Jesus, who dashes his enemies in pieces with a rod of iron.