And He Shall Reign

Handel's Messiah is considered one of the greatest choral masterpieces of all time. Countless school, community, and church choirs perform portions of this work every year. The music, in collaboration with the scriptural texts, creates a spiritual experience that brings to life the prophecy, passion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.In He Shall Reign: Reflections on Handel s Messiah, Dr. Jordan Cox provides the reader an opportunity to listen, reflect, and respond to the scriptures set to Handel s iconic masterwork. Based on his dissertation research, Cox suggests that spiritual experiences cannot be created, but an atmosphere can be cultivated in which spiritual experiences may occur. These spiritual experiences often take place when there are elements of connection at play, one of which is connection to the text.In eight Advent devotions and twelve Lenten devotions, Cox provides five-minute readings to reflect on the text and theology of Handel s Messiah. Whether you are a choral director, singer, or avid listener of choral music, these devotions will deepen your engagement with this work and develop connections to these scriptures that will stir your soul spiritually, musically, and theologically.