Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah

by George Frideric Handel

Albert L. Blackwell (Foreword)

Handel's Messiah is one of the most beloved musical works of the western world, playing an especially sentimental role in many people's Christmas traditions. The libretto of the work, taken directly from the King James text of fourteen books of the Bible, has turned many otherwise forgettable phrases into memorable, singable, cherished lines of Scripture.

This gift-worthy book will delight and inspire classical music fans and those for whom Messiah is a beloved Christmas tradition with essays exploring the theological, historical, and pastoral implications of the Scriptures that make up Handel's Messiah.

Forty reflections journey in order through the oratorio, taking the reader deeper into less-often studied texts like Malachi 3:3 and bringing new light to oft-recited passages like Luke 2:9-14. Each reflection offers the libretto from Messiah, the same passage in NRSV, and a brief commentary on the text, written by a respected scholar or pastor. Readers can peruse the book at leisure or examine one reflection per day throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.

• ISBN10: 0664259987
• ISBN13: 9780664259983
• Publish Date: 26 September 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Westminster/John Knox Press,U.S.
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 160
• Language: English

Reviews

[lovelybookshelf]

This devotional covers the entire libretto of Handel's Messiah, which follows the entire liturgical year, it would work well during any season of the year. No fluff, no sound bites, no emotional manipulation. Just the text, followed by an intellectually thoughtful reflection on the text, and theroom to learn and to respond of one's own accord. More of my thoughts on this title can be found on my blog at A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall.