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Christmas Carol - Day 8

Today I want to share something that has come to be a part of the Christmas tradition in many parts of the world. I'm referring to Handel's Messiah. This singular work of music is one of the most powerful ever written. The text is almost exclusively from the scriptures, and it is as inspiring and beautiful as the word of God itself.

The most famous bit, of course, is the Hallelujah Chorus. Everyone is familiar with this, I think. But there are many more and wonderful parts that are often overlooked. One of them is "But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming?" There are many renditions of this, and there are many opinions about which part should sing it. Personally, I prefer the bass - the mezzo-soprano, alto, or tenor versions I've heard don't seem able to hit the low notes with the power they deserve. But that's just my own opinion. Check out other versions on YouTube if you wish to see if there's another version that you prefer and let me know, OK?

The text for this bit is from Malachi. I like it because I feel that the Lord's influence is like a refiner's fire in our lives. I would also like to point out a possible parallel to the Passover feast (Seder Feast), where they open a door for Elijah to come and join the feast. As Latter-day Saints, we believe that Elijah came not to a Seder Feast, but to the Kirtland Temple, as was promised by Malachi. The parallel I'm drawing is that the Lord will come to His people, and who shall stand when He appeareth? Just as the Jews each year renew their longing for Elijah (and by extension the promised Messiah), so we should long for the Second Coming of the Savior.

I'm not going to cite the lyrics here. They're simple enough to follow on your own.

Enjoy!


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