A moment of rest

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

As a musician, specifically a vocal musician, there are many sayings and phrases that instantly bring to mind a particular song. It’s worse for my wife, who suffers from chronic earworm-itis. But really — I guarantee that if, in a choral rehearsal, you said the phrase, “let’s start at the very beginning,” you would be met with a chorus of “a very good place to start” in response. It’s such a powerful involuntary response that it may even happen before the choristers are aware that they’ve done it.

It is hard to hear certain scriptural passages without hearing musical settings of those texts, as well. Especially during Advent and Christmas, and lesser so during Lent and Easter, I hear the words used in Handel’s Messiah all over the place — “Glory to God in the highest” “Comfort ye, my people…” “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace…” You get the idea. 

One of my absolute favorite moments in the whole work is not one of the grand choruses — it isn't a chorus at all. In fact, it isn’t particularly grand. It is the penultimate movement of the first (or so-called “Christmas”) portion of Messiah. Originally, Handel wrote it as a soprano solo, but he had the great inspiration to alter it later on to be the only duet in that part of the work, in fact, one of only two duets in the entirety of the work.

The reason this movement is such a favorite moment in the work for me is twofold. First, in full disclosure, it’s one of the pieces I love hearing my wife sing more than just about anything else on the planet. Just thinking about hearing her sing it causes tears to well up in my eyes. But second, the alteration that Handel made to it is pure genius. The thing that makes it genius is that it’s so simple. You see, this movement contains two texts: Isaiah 40:11, which reads “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd, and he shall gather the lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” and Matthew 11:28-29, which reads, “Come unto him all ye that labor, come unto him, ye that are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you and learn of him, for he is meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Now, admittedly, these are paraphrases of both scriptures by Handel’s librettist, Charles Jennens, and the juxtaposition of the two passages, an Old Testament prophecy with a New Testament fulfillment is beautiful in and of itself. But combined with the brilliant brightening of this key change and change of voice type… it’s as if the heavens open and we can glimpse the face of God. Well, it is for me, at least, especially when I get to hear my wife sing it. 

Moreover, I think Handel knew what he was doing. This moment in Messiah gives me, and I dare say anyone who hears it, a moment of rest. The lilting triple meter makes the listener feel as though they are being gently rocked by a loving mother. In short, it embodies the scripture that it quotes.

Let us pray. 

God, for those times when music provides us rest, and especially for those times when music allows us to hear your voice more clearly, thank you, and may we always pay attention. Amen. 

This devotion was written and read by Dwight Dockery.

Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.

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