May 7, 2023
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns.” Revelation 19:6 (NRSV)
“Hallelujah Chorus”
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reignethHallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!For the Lord God omnipotent reignethHallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
“Handel’s Messiah”
One of the young ladies in our prayer group was recently treated for cancer. She is a wife and mother of a son who is less than three years old. We have been praying for her since starting her treatment. She called into our prayer line to give us a praise report. She had her PET Scan, and it showed NO EVIDENCE OF CANCER! We all shouted HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD. She also shared some new information with us. Prior to her receiving chemotherapy, she had a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer with metastasis which she has not shared with us. Again, we all shouted HALLELUJAH, and PRAISE THE LORD – giving God the glory and praise for His healing power and her faith in God!
I am sure many of you have had occasions of shouting HALLELUJAH, PRAISE THE LORD when receiving the good news of answered prayer. Our prayer group prayed for her during her pregnancy and the delivery of a fine baby boy whom we have given the name Rev. D.J., and why which can be shared later.
The word “Hallelujah” has been an important Christian word for praise from early times! “Hallelujah” comes from two Hebrew words that mean “Praise the Lord.” This combination of the two Hebrew words forms the characteristic call to praise. It is used in church worship and liturgy. Jews used the word in their synagogue worship. “Hallelujah,” according to ancient Hebrew tradition, is to be written as one word, except in Psalm 135:3. It only occurs in the Old Testament in the Psalms, where it occurs twenty-three times. Its first usage is Psalm 104:35. Each of Psalm 111 to Psalm 113 begins with “Hallelujah.” Each of Psalm 115 to Psalm 117:1 ends with the word Hallelujah and each of Psalm 146 to Psalm 150:1 begins and ends with it Hallelujah.
The word HALLELUJAH is found in only one chapter of the New Testament, Revelation 19, where the redeemed of all ages are in the presence of God, and a great multitude from every nation and people unite their voices like a loud peal of thunder, saying, “Hallelujah! Hallelujah is a Hebrew word meaning “praise ye YAH (Yahweh).” Hallelujah, as a transliteration, appears four times in the NIV and NASB (Revelation 19:1–6) it takes the form “alleluia” in the KJV. In modern dialects, both hallelujah and alleluia mean “Praise the Lord,” a phrase that appears, in English, over fifty times in the Old Testament and once in the New Testament.
The word Hallelujah is most familiar in the context of the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah!
After moving to Michigan many years ago, I remember being a member of a choir in which we performed “Handel’s Messiah” during the Christmas season, a famous oratorio and rather complex musical composition. I remember our choir practicing for hours to perfect it. There are renditions of Hallelujah from some of the world’s most talented singers, and in my opinion, they can’t compare to Handel’s Messiah” by George Frideric Handel ~ “For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth Hallelujah!” Handel composed the Messiah in just 24 days, and it was first performed in Dublin in 1742. Since then, it has become a beloved work of classical music and is often performed by choirs and orchestras around the world.
The Word of God Teaches us as Believers that God is the Creator of the Universe and Provider of Salvation and therefore He alone is Worthy of our Highest Praise ~ Hallelujah!
WHAT SHOULD WE PRAISE GOD FOR?
Praise God for Jesus.
Ephesians 1:3, 6, 12. How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ. So, we praise God for the wonderful kindness he has poured out on us because we belong to his dearly loved Son.
Revelation 1:4-5. Grace and peace from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the commander of all the rulers of the world. All praise to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
Praise God for Being God.
Exodus 15:2. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
Praise God for His Holy Splendor and Awesomeness.
2 Chronicles 20:21. After consulting the leaders of the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”
Psalm 68:35. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!
Praise God for His Unfailing Love
Psalm 31:21. Praise the Lord, for he has shown me his unfailing love. He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
Psalm 59:17. O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me, unfailing love.
Psalm 106:1. Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.
Praise God for His Mercy
Psalm 28:6 . . . Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy.
2 Corinthians 1:3. All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us.
Praise God for His Wisdom
Daniel 2:20. Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power.
Praise God for His Guidance.
Genesis 24:48. Then I bowed my head and worshiped the Lord. I praised the Lord, the God of my master, Abraham, because he had led me along the right path to finding a wife from the family of my master’s relatives.
Praise God For The Things He Has done.
Psalm 56:10. O God, I praise your word. Yes, Lord, I praise your word.
Praise God for His Word.
Psalm 107:8. Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for all his wonderful deeds to them.
Isaiah 25:1. O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.
A PRAISING 
HEART In summary, the significance of “Hallelujah” in Revelation 19:1-6 is its emphasis on the praise and worship of God for His righteous judgment, sovereignty, and power over all creation. It is a declaration of the victory of God over evil and the ultimate triumph of His kingdom.
FATHER GOD: Thank You for providing us with Your Word which gives us clear instructions on how to live and behave as Your children. Help us to be more like You Jesus. Help us to honor You with the fruit of our lips, in the Precious, Powerful, and Preeminent Name of Jesus Christ or Savior and Lord, Amen!