Comfort

After a restless and somewhat dark overture, the tenor soloist sounds the theme of Messiah: "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God." And so begins what we think of as the Christmas portion of the great oratorio. But most of Part I is Advent, rehearsing the promises and prophecies that precede the next (and only other) instrumental portion - the "Pastoral Symphony." And in a few short movements the nativity (Christmas proper) story is told. Part I ends with the life of Jesus, still comforting God's people. "His yoke is easy, and his burden is light."

Nearly all the "Advent" portion of Messiah is from Isaiah, and that magisterial prophet continues to speak throughout Part I. Because of Messiah - and many, many other songs, hymns, and compositions of the season -  Isaiah is sort of "the Christmas prophet." Rather, we should say, the Advent prophet, for he speaks of the Incarnation and the Return (the second advent) of the Messiah.

The Choir Bible Study is working through Isaiah 40 - 66 this year. (We meet in the choir room during the 9:30 service, on Sundays the choir sings, after choir leaves the loft. All are welcome.) So maybe I'm just Isaiah-crazy these days. Still, for these weeks of Advent, I will be sharing seasonal songs and hymns that come from that prophet.

Comfort, comfort ye my people,
speak of peace, thus saith our God;
comforth those who sit in darkness,
mourning 'neath their sorrows' load.
Speak ye to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them,
tell her that her sins I cover, and her warfare now is over.
   Hark, the voice of one that crieth
   in the desert far and near,
   calling us to new repentance
   since the kingdom now is here.
   Oh, that waarning cry obey! Now prepare for God a way;
   let the valleys rise to meet him and the hills bow down to greet him.
Make ye straight what once was crooked,
make the rougher places plain;
let your hearts be true and humble, as befits his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord now o'er earth is shed abroad;
and all flesh shall see the token that his word is never broken.

from Isaiah 40

text by Johannes Llearius (1671), translated Catherine Winkworth