Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Amazing, Holy Mystery


Amazing, Holy Mystery
by Frank Allaben

Amazing, holy mystery,
Colossians 2:2-3  that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Unfathomed Sacrifice,
Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Where Incarnate Love on Calv'ry's tree,
Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Accursed for sinners, dies!
Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, "cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"-
From His soul pour'd out unto death, that cry
Jesus says in Matthew 26:27-28 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Utters sorrow and love unknown,
Of the Messiah in Isaiah 53:3-4 He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted.
Mark 14:34  And He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch."
O Suff'rer, so wounded, so lone!
Of the disciples forsaking Christ, in Mark 14:50 And they all left Him and fled.


How couldst Thou, - bruised, like crushed worm
Of the Messiah in Isaiah 53:5 (KJV) But 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.
Of the Messiah in Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people.
Trod down in the dust of death, -
Of the Messiah in Psalm 22:15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death.
O'er that scene of wrathful gloom and storm
Luke 23:44-45  It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
Pour love's sweet undying breath?
Jesus says in John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
'Twas our doom that wrung from Thy soul the plea,
1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Out of depths of the direful cross,
Of Jesus in Philippians 2:8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
"My God, O why hast Thou forsaken Me?"
Mark 15:34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying , Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Forsaken, blest Saviour, for us!
Of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.


For us Thy scars Thou wearest still, -
*Jesus said in John 20:27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing."
Sweet marks of our Advocate!
1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;
Soon Thy Form of love our souls shall thrill,
Of Christ in Colossians 2:9 For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
 1 John 4:8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
Low bowed at Thy nail-pierced feet!
Of John seeing Jesus, Revelation 1:17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,"
How Thy wounds shall speak! how Thy soul's deep cry
Shall in echo forever fall,
"Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"
Matthew 27:46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
Lord Jesus! our Glory, our All!
Of believers in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

*The Bible never uses the term scars of Jesus hands and feet, but wounds (Zechariah 13:6; 1 Peter 2:24)

Thursday, 13 December 2012

Handel's Messiah - Part III

Part III


(45) I know that my redeemer liveth
Job 19:25, 26 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.
1Corinthians 15:20 [For] now is Christ risen from the dead. . . the firstfruits of them that [sleep].






(50) O death where is thy sting?
1Corinthians 15:55-56 (Hosea 13:14) 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.







(51) But thanks be to God
1 Corinthians 15:57  But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.



For the rest of Handel's Messiah, click below:

Friday, 7 December 2012

Handel's Messiah - Part II

Part II


(22) Behold the lamb of God
John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world.





(30) Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Lamentations 1:12 Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto [his] sorrow. . .




(33) Lift up your heads, O ye gates
Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory.






(37) The Lord gave the word
Psalm 68:11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of [the preachers].





(38) How beautiful are the feet
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!





(41) Let us break their bonds asunder
Psalm 2:3 Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.






(43) Thou shalt break them
Psalm 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.





(44) Hallelujah
Revelation 19:6 Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 11:15 15. . . the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ: and He shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 19:16  . . .KING OF KINGS, LORD OF LORDS.





For the rest of Handel's Messiah, click below:
Handel's Messiah, Part I
Handel's Messiah, Part III

Wednesday, 5 December 2012

Handel's Messiah - Part I

After my last post about a song that quoted Luke 2, I kept thinking about a recitative from Handel's Messiah.  A recitative is a song that is usually short and uses ordinary speech rhythms to sound as if it is being recited or spoken.  The specific recitative on my mind was "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying," which then launches into the more familiar "Glory to God".  Handel's Messiah is one of my favorite oratorio and is often thought of at Christmas (though it really depicts much more about our Savior than just his birth).  I couldn't resist sharing this scriptural concert with you.

I was introduced to Handel's Messiah as a child, hearing it at concerts.  During the 90's, my parents took our family to Handel's Young Messiah concerts.  I am so thankful that they drove us more than two hours to go to concerts where the popular Christian singers of the day like Steven Curtis Chapman, 4Him, Sandi Patty, Carman, and the Winans rocked modern versions of Handel's Messiah.  If you have yet to hear this, I highly recommend it.




In my college years, I was blessed to join the college choir that performed this and other oratorios.  That only enhanced my appreciation for this masterpiece as I finally understood all of the emotion Handel built into it.  First, Handel ushers into the holy sanctuary with the Overture and then captures the feeling behind each scripture perfectly.  From the comforting Comfort Ye, to the glorious Glory of the Lord.  From the dark The People That Walked in Darkness, to the joyful Rejoice Greatly.  From the pastoral He Shall Feed His Flock to the light His Yoke is Easy.  This masterpiece definitely helps the listener to comprehend the depth of our Promised One, the Messiah.



(1) Overture




(9) O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
Isaiah 40:9 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!
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.





(13) Pastoral Symphony




(18) Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion
Zechariah 9:9,10 (Matthew 21:5) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is the righteous Savior. . And he shall speak peace unto the heathen.