Looking back I wish it had occurred to us to sing another song. It would have been the perfect setting for us to sing "O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion," from Handel's Messiah.
"Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God."" ~ Isaiah 40:9
Because what better place to proclaim God's presence, power, and love then from the top of a mountain?
And what better time than Christmas to proclaim the good news of God coming to us, to proclaim that God is with us?
There was another song which I didn't know at the time. A song which I'm so thankful has made it's way into the Christmas Repertoire because it's so easy to get caught up with the little baby in the manger that we forget all that He is and all He came to do.
This song, Climb to The Top of The Highest Mountain written by Carolyn Jennings is, like Handel's aforementioned aria, a direct adaption from verses in Isaiah 40. I love this work because it so beautifully encapsulates and expresses the awe we should feel in the presence of God's power. And I'm going to leave it there. As you listen to this beautiful choral work, think about God's power. Wonder for a few minutes on the magnitude of a love which would compel such a magnificent God to come down to save such insignificant creatures as we are.
I'm including the lyrics below the video, make sure that you read them while the song is playing. It's important to know what they're singing, and it's hard to catch all the words if you don't know them already. ;)
Climb to the top of the highest mountain, joyous tidings proclaim to the world,
Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will carry the lambs in his arms,
He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea,
From time eternal He was God, the Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy and truth,
Hope of the nations, light of all the world.
He will love the little children, He will hold them in his arms.
Love Him and trust Him as a little child. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
Lift up your voice, shout the good news: behold, your Lord comes to you.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will carry the lambs in his arms,
He will ever keep them safe from harm. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
He who made the stars in the heaven, He who fashioned the earth and the sea,
From time eternal He was God, the Alpha and Omega, He. Behold, your Lord!
He will come in power and glory, He will rule with mercy and truth,
Hope of the nations, light of all the world.
He will love the little children, He will hold them in his arms.
Love Him and trust Him as a little child. Behold, your Lord comes to you.
What a great God we serve, friends, don't ever forget that. Don't ever forget that someday we will reign with Him as He rules the world. Today, let your joy and confidence in a God who made the stars in the heavens and fashioned the earth and sea, shine out and capture the hearts of those who have no such assurance. And through your life, don't ever let anyone make you ashamed of One who will come in power and glory and rule with mercy and truth!
~ Christianna
1 comments:
Wow! I was fairly sobbing at "Alpha and Omega, He"....
I'd never heard this before, but on the first hearing, it has become one of my favorites. You know me well enough to know that I don't jump on "bandwagons" or place things on my favorites lists easily.
Maybe having a couple of emotional weeks, and it's being 4 am helped the tears, but, I do believe this is, notwithstanding, a powerfully true song.(How can Scripture be otherwise?)
Thank you, dear one, for posting this balm to my heart, for bringing forth treasures old and new. God is so tenderly loving. He is, indeed, fashioner of the earth and sea, maker of the stars in heaven, but merciful and True, carrying us and loving us far beyond what we realize...the beginning and the end of our souls' desire.
Post a Comment