Every Valley: Advent with the Scriptures of Handel's Messiah
Hardcover, ebook, paperback
September 26, 2014
by
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 text of the work has turned many otherwise forgettable phrases into memorable, singable, cherished lines of Scripture. This lovely gift book will delight and inspire classical music fans and those for whom Messiah is a beloved Christmas tradition with devotions exploring the Scriptures that make up Handel's Messiah.
Forty reflections journey in order through Messiah, taking the reader deeper into less-often studied texts like Malachi 3:3 and bringing new light to popular passages like Luke 2:9-14. Each reflection offers the text from Messiah, the same passage in NRSV, and a brief devotion on the text. Readers can peruse the book at leisure or examine one reflection per day throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.
Forty reflections journey in order through Messiah, taking the reader deeper into less-often studied texts like Malachi 3:3 and bringing new light to popular passages like Luke 2:9-14. Each reflection offers the text from Messiah, the same passage in NRSV, and a brief devotion on the text. Readers can peruse the book at leisure or examine one reflection per day throughout the Advent and Christmas seasons.
From the Back Cover
Ev'ry valley shall be exalted,
and ev'ry mountain and hill made low . . .
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given . . .
All we like sheep have gone astray . . .
Hallelujah!
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. . .
These memorable words can easily be heard in a kind of sentimental haze, familiar from countless church choir concerts and Christmas Eve services. But the scriptures Handel set to music in his most beloved oratorio also tell a powerful story--of God's promised one, from prophetic foretelling to birth, death, resurrection, and ultimate victory. Find inspiration for your holiday season and year-round faith with these forty insightful meditations.
and ev'ry mountain and hill made low . . .
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given . . .
All we like sheep have gone astray . . .
Hallelujah!
for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. . .
These memorable words can easily be heard in a kind of sentimental haze, familiar from countless church choir concerts and Christmas Eve services. But the scriptures Handel set to music in his most beloved oratorio also tell a powerful story--of God's promised one, from prophetic foretelling to birth, death, resurrection, and ultimate victory. Find inspiration for your holiday season and year-round faith with these forty insightful meditations.
My thoughts: EVERY VALLEY is a devotional series set around Handel’s Messiah celebrating the Advent season. Divided up into parts, Part 1 is: Christ’s Birth and Its Foretelling; Part 2 is: Christ’s Passion and Resurrection; and Part 3: Christ’s Eternal Reign. Each part is divided up into movements. Scripture references are included and written in the devotional so readers don’t have to look them up. This is a good book to have on hand and read during the Advent season – or at any time of the year, really, since the second part is good for the Easter season and the third part as we look forward to his second coming. A great book. 4 stars.
1 comment:
I used this for advent in the kindle format. I haven't written my goodreads review yet, but plan to rate it high because it is such a lovely concept(I listened to the Messiah as I read). However, I did have some theological issues with some of his points. He comes from a fairly liberal perspective. A mature reader should be able to sift out the questionable parts and still benefit from the devotional, I think.
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