Handel with care: Bob Johnson listens in

‘Just why do the nations so furiously rage together?’

by Bob Johnson 15th January 2021

I love Handel’s Messiah – most of it. The rich sounds, the ebullient energy, the familiar soaring melodies, all contribute to a wonderful evening. The words are edifying too – mostly. Perhaps it’s the glimpse into how Christianity looked in 1741. But sometimes they grate, even bringing a catch to the throat. Just why do the nations so furiously rage together? And why do the people imagine a vain thing?