Music Monday--Every Valley Shall Be Exaulted

Handel's Messiah inevitably runs through the head of many a music lover during Advent. The old testament reading on second Sunday of Advent this year was taken from the prophet Baruch.

For God has decreed the flattening
of each high mountain, of the everlasting hills,
the filling of the valleys to make the ground level
so that Israel can walk in safety under the glory of God.

Other years, it is taken from Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31

Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.

This message was reinforced in the Gospel of Luke this Sunday when John the Baptist

went through the whole Jordan district proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the sayings of the prophet Isaiah:
A voice cries in the wilderness:
Prepare a way for the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley will be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low,
winding ways will be straightened
and rough roads made smooth.
And all mankind shall see the salvation of God.