Dec
6
Handel-ing Christmas
Filed Under Christmas, Music | Leave a Comment
George Frideric Handel wrote his Messiah in the summer of 1741 (though it was not performed first until 1742). It is both musically and biblically rich. We’ll take some successive posts to consider the same texts of Scripture that Handel did as he composed his famous Messiah.
Isaiah 40:1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
It is very difficult to express the impact of those first words of Isaiah 40:1 without steeping yourself in chapters 1-39 of Isaiah. God has been bluntly honest about his people and it has not been pretty. They have been called to task for their idolatry, sensuality, half-hearted worship, lack of trust in God, mercantile spirit, social sins, etc. The Lord has used Isaiah to tell them of impending judgment of the sort that would set the most stalwart warrior to trembling. They are a bleak 39 chapters sprinkled with glimpses of grace.
Then comes chapter 40 an extraordinary proclamation of God’s loving kindness toward his people. Through the testimony of the New Testament we know that these verses are referring not just to the redemption of the people of God from exile but more importantly to the redemption of the people of God from their wretched sins through the mediator of the Covenant of Grace, Jesus Christ. As we pause and consider this passage and the coming of Christ, taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, we need to guard our hearts from putting the cart before the horse. Why is Christmas such good news? It is because our lives of sin read a whole lot like Isaiah 1-39, blunt condemnation. It is not until we consider the depth of our sin and the perfect justice of God that we begin to have proper joy over our Christmas Christ.
So as an admonition to you this Christmas season, take some time to consider your sin. Dwell long and soberly with your shortcomings. See in Isaiah 1-39 God’s holy disposition to the wretchedness of depravity. Then when you can see the darkness and feel the despair of sin without a savior, let the warm waves of “Comfort, comfort ye my people” announce the joy of Christ to your soul.
Dec
5
Lagniappe update
Filed Under Lagniappe, Prayer | Leave a Comment
During 2006 FPC Kosciusko sent four teams to work with Lagniappe Presbyterian Church in Bay St. Louis, and some of our folk went down on their own at other times to lend a hand. We’ve also made them an enourmous charcoal grill and sent tools, supplies and money down there. Thanks be to God for how he has blessed us all in 2006.
Don’t forget this work of gospel restoration on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Jean Larroux is asking for ‘prayer tithes’ from supporting churches and individuals, i.e., people who will commit to use 10% of their prayer time interceding for Lagniappe. It’s a good idea. Count me in. Check up on the work by logging on to www.lagniappechurch.com.
Dec
1
Most Influential Americans?
Filed Under Culture, Fun, Jonathan Edwards | Leave a Comment
The Atlantic released their list of the top 100 most influential Americans, compiled by a panel of their contributors. Though I applaud the progenitor of my university at numero tres, I notice Jonathan Edwards (90) was given the back seat over Margaret Sanger (51), Joseph Smith (52), Elvis Presley (66), PT Barnum (67), Brigham Young (74), and Mary Baker Eddy (86). At least the blurb on Edwards was decent: “Forget the fire and brimstone: his subtle eloquence made him the country’s most influential theologian.”
In the end, it is a good list when you consider their design was to give the most influential Americans and not the most magnificent Americans. Feel free to comment with any changes you would have made had you been on the panel.
We can discuss Robert E Lee (57) versus Ulysses S Grant (12) another time.