You’ve likely heard of George Frederic Handel, composer of the famous oratorio Messiah, but you may not know the name Charles Jennens (1700-1773). Without Charles Jennens, there would be no Messiah. His contributions were so considerable that George sometimes referred to the work as “your Messiah.” Charles was a wealthy landowner in England, a devout Christian, and an enthusiastic patron of the arts. He was also friends with George and supplied him with gratis texts for his music. Charles was troubled by encroaching deism in the Church of England. Deism rejected the biblical claim of God’s involvement in human affairs. While God made the universe, deism believed this impersonal deity let creation run its own course. Deism rejected God’s self-revelation in Scripture, the deity of Christ, and the message of salvation. Charles’ concern with deism was also personal. One contributing reason to his brother’s suicide was the influence of deism, which Robert encountered during his studies at Oxford University.
Charles sent his “Scripture Collection,” an impressive array of eighty-one Scripture texts from fourteen different books in the Bible to demonstrate that God is personally involved in redeeming people. Charles wrote to a friend, “Handel says he will do nothing next winter, but I hope I shall persuade him to set another Scripture collection I have made for him and perform it for his own benefit in Passion Week. I hope he will lay out his whole genius and skill upon it, that the composition may excel all his former compositions, as the subject excels every other subject. The subject is Messiah.” When George received the text, he was captivated by Charles’ choice of texts and finished the work in a breathtaking span of twenty-four days. At its premiere in 1742, the organizers anticipated a packed house, so much so that women were asked not to wear hooped skirts, and men were advised to leave their swords at home. No one knows how many times this timeless oratorio has been sung. This enduring musical tribute to our risen Christ leads us to pray: