Excerpted from 'Handel's Messiah' [1741]* - the last five 'movements' of Part II. The first four (in the top video) are taken from Psalms 2: "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing" (v.1)? is the question asked by the psalmist...who then notes that "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed" (v.2). Such is truly the case in the world today...people raging and imagining...kings and rulers taking counsel together...against the LORD and his anointed - the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.. to cast away their cords. Why there could not possibly be any more vain of a thing to attempt than this - to free themselves from the rightful governorship of Almighty God the LORD their creator - which they shall indeed find out one day; which unfortunately for them they will only learn 'the hard way' - on that day when he breaks them with a rod of iron...and dashes them to pieces like a potter's vessel [Ps. 2:9; Rev. 19:13-16]. In other words, it will not end well for them:
[:01] Aria : Why do the nations
[2:53] Chorus (performing the part of the raging heathen): Let us break their bands
[4:40] Recitative: He that dwelleth in heaven
[5:07] Aria: Thou shalt break them
vidlink
41. Why do the heathen (nations) rage
Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, saying, (Psalms 2:1-2)




