The Hallelujah Chorus |
Written by Dr. Harold R. Carpenter |
Dr. Harold & Myrna Carpenter TEXT: Revelation 19:1-6
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,I. HANDEL'S MESSIAH AND HALLELUJAH CHORUS George Frideric Handel the great composer of the Messiah and the Hallelujah Chorus which forms one of its parts was born in Halle Germany in 1685. Halle was the center for the Pietist movement, a great revival movement within a decadent Lutheran Church. It was at Halle that the 100 year prayer meeting started in 1727. Handel became chapel master in Hamburg and then moved to London in 1712. Some years later Handel suffered a stroke and was afflicted with cataracts. A crude surgical method of that day involved taking a blunt instrument and pushing the cataract back into the eyeball to allow more light to enter it. Because of his poor health and failing eyesight Handel lost his position in the court of England and found himself near destitute and in a state of depression and despair. Struggling to earn a living in London, he knew days when he could not afford to buy meals. One night in 1741, depressed and defeated, he wandered the lonely streets; it was almost dawn when he returned to his shabby room. On a table was a thick envelope. it was from Charles Jennens, the man who wrote his librettos. Examining the pages, he found them covered with Scripture texts. Wearily, he tossed the pages aside and crawled into bed. But he could not sleep. The words he had read returned to him:Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God ... The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light ... For unto us a Child is born ... Glory to God in the highest ... Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Too stirred to sleep, he got up and went to his piano. The music flowed from his heart-rich, majestic, triumphant. He began to write. Night and day for three weeks, he wrote feverishly. He forgot sleep, food, rest. He refused to see anyone. At last, on the day the work was finished, one friend managed to gain entrance. The composer was at his piano, sheets of music strewn around him, tears streaming down his face. "I do believe I have seen all of Heaven before me, and the great God Himself," he exclaimed. Millions of people have been able to believe that. The first audience to hear the composition -- in Dublin in 1742 --gave it the greatest ovation in the city's history. Weeks later, London heard it for the first time, and again it was a triumph. The King was so impressed during the Hallelujah Chorus that he rose to his feet -- a custom that still prevails. Listen to the words of the Hallelujah Chorus:Hallelujah! Hallelujah!II. JOHN'S HALLELUJAH CHORUS AND MESSIAH A. John, the Son of Thunder, was called to follow the Master.CONCLUSION: The heavenly choir of the redeemed of every kindred, race, tribe and tongue will join in a mighty Hallelujah Chorus of victory. The crowd will not stand to its feet. It will already be on its feet when the Lord of Glory claims his final victory and carries out the final judgment on the wicked. 11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it {is} called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. <><This is the outline of the sermon Dr. Harold Carpenter preached 16 March 2003 in the evening service. Dr. Carpenter and his wife served as missionaries for twenty years. Dr. Carpenter also taught missions for twenty years at Central Bible College. He now serves as Pastor of Fair Grove Assembly of God, Fair Grove MO. © Harold Carpenter 2003. Published by permission. In Essentials: Unity; In non-essentials: Liberty; In all things: Charity—Peter Meiderlin 1626.
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Last Updated on Sunday, 07 August 2011 17:27 |