A heart awakened
The story is told of a man who had been the most famous and sought after composer in the British kingdom. His music and his services were in such high demand that, in an effort to find some type of peace and serenity, he frequently had to tell others no, at times acting in a rather boorish manner. After much success, the popularity of his style of music quickly dwindled, and this composer experienced one failure after another. His critics were merciless, unrelenting and ruthless. Overnight, it seemed, he became the object of mockery and contempt. Within 3 years, his money was gone, his reputation ruined, and his selfconfidence shattered. This once famous composer was so afraid of failure that he quit even attempting to create new music. The stress was so intense and took such a heavy toll on the man’s nerves that it left his face disfigured, and left him looking as though he had a come down with Bell’s Palsy. He “became a physical caricature of what his critics said of him.”
One day a friend approached the composer with a text this friend wished to have set to music. After many repeated attempts, the friend finally persuaded the composer to at least read the words and see if there were some suggestions he could give. As he read the words, something in the text awakened this broken, shattered man’s heart, and the composer “found the courage to dare to create again.” The man’s circumstances had not changed, but he had been changed, forever.
When the music was
completed, his friend had it played in the Royal Opera House in London. On the evening of the concert, the place was packed and even the King, George II, was present. As the story goes, when the final chorus began, the king heard the following words: “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth… Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever; For ever and ever, forever and ever! King of kings, and Lord of lords, King of kings, and Lord of lords,… And He shall reign, And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings, forever and ever, And Lord of lords, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! …”
The King was so moved by the music and the words that he rose from his seat, and as the king stood, so did everyone else. Thus the tradition of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah continues even today.*
The Hallelujah Chorus is a popular song this time of year, but its message, and the story behind it are timeless. What makes song so powerful is not only the music, but the message behind it; the message that God indeed rules and has all things under control, even if it doesn’t seem like it; that He shall reign forever, that the baby, named Jesus, whose birth is celebrated at Christmas, and whose death and resurrection are celebrated at Easter is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As the angel said to the women on that first Easter Sunday morning: “Do not be afraid. I know you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here. He is risen, just as He said. Come see the place where He was lying. (Matthew 28:5-6)” It is a message that was planned before the world was created, a message centered in and around Jesus’ birth sinless life, culminating in Jesus’ death on the cross and in His resurrection. It is a message that awakens a cold and lifeless heart and gives us the courage to dare to get up and try again, to dare to hope again, to dare to believe again, or perhaps for the first time. It is a message reminding us that as long as Jesus lives, there is always hope, even in the face of death itself. May the message of Jesus’ sinless life, His death and resurrection, along with the message of Handel’s Messiah awaken your heart, not only this Lenten/Easter season, but the whole year through. “And He shall reign for ever and ever; For ever and ever, forever and ever! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! .... ”