Hallelujah is
defined as “an exclamatory expression of praise and adoration” and the Psalms
are filled with such rejoicing. Hallelujah is specifically used by
Christ-followers to proclaim, “Praise the Lord” or “Praise Jehovah”. Our lives should reflect this, not only on
Sundays or holidays, but throughout the year.
I firmly believe that our lives will look different if we start each day
with a Hallelujah.
Psalm 106:1 declares, “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to
the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!” Psalm 111:1 says, “Praise the Lord! I will
give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in
the congregation.”
I’m a cheater. When
reading a novel or watching a movie, I often skip ahead to the last chapter or
read an online synopsis. There is
already so much in life that is unknown, I choose not to be patient when the
end is knowable. Personally, I enjoy the
story a lot more when I know how it turns out.
Isn’t it encouraging that the Bible gives us the end of the
story also? You can skip straight to
Revelation if you want to read how God gets the victory. Revelation 19:1 starts with, “After these
things, I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven,
saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” (NASB) The redemptive story of the Bible is one that
we should read again and again, memorize, and act upon. The final book gives us the culmination of all
we need to know. God is in control. He proves Himself over and over again. Salvation belongs to Him. No one comes to God except through Jesus
(John 14:6). God alone holds all glory
and power. Hallelujah! Revelation 19:6 ends with rejoicing,
“Hallelujah, for the Lord our God the Almighty Reigns.”
When was the last time you said Hallelujah out loud? Were
you singing a song at church? Did you
find your missing keys? Did your favorite
sports team win? What about for no other
reason than that you are alive? In his
devotional, Be Thou My Vision, John
Fischer quotes the hymn, Hallelujah, What
A Savior. In the original hymn,
songwriter Phillip Bliss says we were “guilty, vile, and helpless”. Jesus, the “spotless Lamb of God... sealed my
pardon with His blood.” John Fischer’s
devotional states that “we became valuable at the cross, and not a second
before.” Jesus “made us worthy in this
death.” This is the reason we should sing
and shout Hallelujah.
Multiple songs have been written encompassing the power and
glory of God in finite words. These are
all feeble attempts to return thanks to God for making us valuable through the
sacrifice of His Son. Recently, I was
out of town and driving a car borrowed from family. I was extra careful the whole week; not to
speed or get too close to other vehicles, so that I could return the car to my
loved one in the pristine condition in which it came to me. I spent most of the time that I drove that
car praying and listening to worship music.
Later, after I returned the car, I recall how thankful I was that if
anything had happened to me, my last words would have been praise. Oh what joy it would be to leave this life
and to enter heaven with praise on our lips.
Hallelujah does
not seem adequate. And yet, every time I
sing, or say, or shout Hallelujah, my
emotions alter course. It is not a
magical word, but the active expression of praise to God can lift our hearts,
even when our circumstances are not changing.
Our emotions are God-given, yet fickle, and easily deceived. When Hallelujah
is expressed to God, it draws our perspective away from our weakness and back
to His strength. This Sunday, with your friends
and family, and every day, focus on Almighty God and His strength. The next time you’re stuck in traffic, overwhelmed
by sickness, depressed by the news, or burdened by life, say Hallelujah, What A Savior. Praise Jehovah, for He is Holy. There is no medication, no entertainment, no
friend that can cheer our weary souls like Jesus. He is worthy of our Hallelujahs.
A great
place to start a life of praise is with Christian music. You can access music on the Internet and
worship more than just at church on Sunday.
One of my favorite songs is "All I Have Is Christ". It
begins, “I once was lost in darkest night, yet thought I knew the way.” It continues later on with, “You looked upon
my helpless state, and led me to the cross...Now all I know is grace. Hallelujah, All I Have Is Christ.”
You can
find the full lyrics and song at https://sovereigngracemusic.bandcamp.com/track/all-i-have-is-christ
Copyright October 14, 2014 by *thewifeoflee*
*********
Resources:
Be Thou My Vision by John Fischer
Zondervan’s New International Bible Dictionary page 412
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary page 287
Well written AND you quoted from 2 of my favorite songs!
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