“You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm… He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
- Isaiah 40:9-11 (NIV)
In “Messiah”, G. F. Handel crafts verse 9 into an alto solo immediately followed by the choir. A lone voice delivers a message of hope, declaring God is here, followed by other voices literally echoing one another. The voices then unify in affirmation of His presence and His affect on those He touches.
Jesus did not burst into our world with a display of power. He came in humble circumstances so as not to scare us. He displayed a lowly character and caring manner to draw people to Himself. However, there is no doubt about His strength. The One who cleansed the temple and defeated Satan can indeed cleanse us and deliver us from evil.
God’s plan is for individual voices, experiencing the love of the Shepherd, to proclaim that God is here! What better time than now to give this message of hope to those around us?
