Hallelujah!: Journeying Through Advent with Handel's Messiah

by Dave Gobbett, Sally Gobbett

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Devotional

64 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2025

Reviews

[Josh Miller]

I love hearing the Hallelujah chorus sung by a large choir. Earlier this year, I listened through Handel's entire Messiah by way of vinyl. However, I have never really studied all the actual words. Every single word is sung from the King James Bible.

The authors do a masterful job of sharing biblical truths from Handel's Messiah in an Advent devotional format. I highly recommend this short work for both preachers and people who want to enjoy the Advent journey to Christmas.

Now, I MUST go listen to the Hallelujah chorus!

[Connor Weyant]

Merry Christmas! Hallelujah!

[Marney Rausch]

Great way to go through the advent season.

[Ann | This Quiet Heart Reads]

I won this book in a giveaway and decided to add it as an addition to my advent devotionals! My mom loves Handel’s Messiah and so I grew up seeing concerts with excerpts or listening to it with her. Though I am not a huge classical person, I enjoyed her joy of it.

Reading this book and the songs they have us listen to and reflect on was truly spirit lifting. As I read the words with the song, it really enforced the story and journey that Handel was taking us on in the movements of this piece. I found it rather uplifting and powerful at many moments!

The writing was sometimes, somewhat difficult for me to understand (slightly intellectual). However, I always understood the main message and each day wasn’t too long to listen and read the devotional.

Overall, I am really glad I got to enjoy this book, and plan to lend it to my mother this year! I recommend this if you’ve ever enjoyed Handel’s Messiah and want to go deeper into the message of the music!

[Clive]

I’ve read several Advent devotional over the years, and I consider this one of the best. Taking the words used in Handel’s Messiah, and drawing from the biblical text, daily devotional are presented for each day in December leading up to Christmas Day. The readings are thought provoking and give the words of Messiah new meaning and depth. If you love Handel’s Messiah as I do, I would highly recommend this book.

[James Tidd]

The Messiah by Handel is one of the most celebrated pieces of music ever written. Every Christmas, thousands around the world listen to performances of it, whether it be in cathedrals, concert halls or on the radio.

Every single word from the Messiah is taken from the Bible. This new Advent devotion by Dave and Sally Gobbett uses the masterpiece as a springboard for a daily meditation reflecting on the coming of Jesus, the King of Kings at Christmas.

[John Hayward]

We listen to The Messiah every year and throughout the year, yet Dave & Sally Gobbett's succinct daily reflections in "Hallelujah" managed to give greater appreciation of the way Handel's music complements the words of the Scriptures, as well as giving fresh insight into and applying the texts in a timely manner.

[Phil Butcher]

Our Advent devotional for 2025 . Daily meditations on the meaning of each part of Handel's "Messiah", a piece I've sung many times over the years. Great to dwell on the rich overview of Jesus from multiple Bible verses, at a busy time of year.

[Steve]

Bus

[Autumn]

Loved listening and reflecting on the music and scripture of the messiah during advent. Simple but beautiful.

[Chris]

Great devotion for the Advent season!