… "And the government shall be upon his shoulders"

Thank you, @bruce19. I do hope that others take a chance to read this.

One more outstanding presentation is the 2014 film docu-drama "Handel's Messiah" with Jane Seymour narrating. Available on YouTube at:

https://youtu.be/9JuSAqLBjAM?si=GF9vsxFjISVl4wVW

The performances, costumes, period settings, narration, and historical information are fascinating and excellent. Handel's complex relationship with Charles Jennens is shown as is his relationship with key musicians and singers. The confluence of multiple and seemingly disparate events that all cohered to make the first performance of The Messiah possible might well give one pause. 

It is refreshing to see so many knowledgeable posts about the scripture.  

Hi All,

 The politics of Handel’s time discussed are interesting but none really answered the OP’s question set forth.  The term in the prophesy “And the government shall be upon his shoulder” to me meant that both the Romans and the Jewish leadership of that time would actively oppose him at every opportunity and eventually be responsible for his death.  If you follow the Bible you’ll find that this was the ultimate goal of God.  Jesus was offered up as an atonement for man’s sins.  This provided a path for man’s salvation to all that believed in him.  
This is a great work that I believe was written through the inspiration of the Holy Sprit.  Handel may not have been a religious man but this wouldn’t have been the first time that God used people to attain his objective whether they were believers or not.  If you are familiar with the Bible you will find that God has used such people to attain his objectives more than once.  

If you follow the Bible you’ll find that this was the ultimate goal of God. Jesus was offered up as an atonement for man’s sins.

Whether that is true or not for the faith in the text of the libretto this does not seem to be the intended interpretation:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Most certainly words of praise and power as opposed to worldly strife with an oppressive regime, or the foreshadowing of a human sacrifice.

Isaiah is not a book of prophecy. Written by two different authors at different times both exhorting their present day Israel to do better. Data over Dogma youtube videos do a great job outlining the current academic consensus

 Now if you hold the Bible to be inerrant and completely inspired that is fine for you to believe whatever. Sort of like arguing against another person's ears.

As for Handel underrated and magnificent composer.