But through time the association was altered and now those echoes of “Hallelujah” are an integral part of the Christmas season. You may not know that Handel never conducted it during Christmas. The Hallelujah Chorus – and all of the Messiah – has become one of the best-known and widely loved Christmas presentations of all time. “Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.” You surely recognize at least one of the songs from the Messiah. Did you hear it this season? Written for orchestra, choir, and soloists, Handel’s Messiah is performed each year. In 1741 George Frideric Handel composed an oratorio which has become a Christmas tradition. Sermon for Grace Baptist Church on December 29, 2013 If you would prefer to read, I will put the text below … If you would like to hear the sermon, here is a link to Grace Baptist Church’s website. You’ll see my date (December 29) and my name. It was a part of the psalm that I would have probably skipped over had I not studied the text for the purpose of preaching.
I especially love that last part about the horn.
Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his commands, Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars! Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds! Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth! Young men and women alike, old and young together! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted his glory is above earth and heaven He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his faithful, for the people of Israel who are close to him. He established them forever and ever he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed. Here … you can see it in the poem … Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels praise him, all his host! Praise him, sun and moon praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you wanters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. When I say we must “join in” the praise of God, I’m referring to joining the rest of creation. It’s a “Hallelujah” psalm – because that word is the first line and last line of this Hebrew poem. Their church follows the lectionary, and Psalm 148 was one of the texts I could choose. I felt honored to be given the opportunity. My good friend, Aurelia Pratt, is one of the pastors at Grace, and she invited me to preach at her church the Sunday after Christmas. When I read Psalm 148, that’s the main message I hear, and so that is what I talked about for my sermon at Grace Baptist Church in Round Rock, Texas.
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