I say hallelujah a lot in my house. It might be when one of my little people hangs up their wet towel after they get out of the shower or if my husband puts a dish in the dishwasher. I might even shout out a Hallelujah if we get a front row parking space or when I open a bill and it is not as high as I was thinking.
But we all use it in the same way, there is always an exclamation point at the end of it. Just saying the word, you find yourself putting an emphasis on certain parts, to show emotions or a strong feeling, right? It is a cry for joy.
Here is another reason to say Hallelujah!
This past two weekends the church has baptized 28 children and 1 adult. How exciting is this? Baptism is an outward expression of an inward decision. So, during Covid and our time away from each other as a church and community, it looks like great conversations were happening in the homes. I remember hearing of churches across the nation talking about how many people came to Jesus during the pandemic, thousands each weekend. They turned their fear into faith!
What a great picture capturing the baptism moment. Look at our community gathering and supporting, cheering and crying tears of joy for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are now walking a new fresh life in freedom and grace in Jesus.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!
Romans 6:3-4 “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
But did you know that Hallelujah does not appear anywhere in the New Testament except for Revelations 19:1-6?
Hallelujah is a Hebrew praise word meaning, Praise Yahweh. It is God’s personal, self-revealed name. He has a dynamic personality. The Israelites would use Hallelujah as an acclamation of praise towards God.
There are a set of 10 Psalms called the Hallelujah psalms because they all start with a Praise the Lord, 106, 111–113, 135, 146–150. Here is the first verse in each of the 10 Hallelujah Psalms:
Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 111:1Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord! Blessed in the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments!
Psalm 113:1 Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!
Psalms 135:1 Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord.
Psalm 146:1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and a song of praise is fitting.
Psalm 148:1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights.
Psalm 149:1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
Psalm 150:1 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his might heavens!
See the opening verses are setting the tone for the whole psalm. It recognizes that the things we have are not happenstance or because of our own doing. It is repurposing your mind to think and give God the praise for all first and foremost.
God gives His people instructions in Deut. 6:7 on how to teach the law to their children in the OT. We can take some notes from this and teach ourselves and our kids how to Praise the Lord, how to shout out Hallelujah. We can do it when we walk and talk, when we sit and lie down and then when we rise up.
What if we recognized the meaning of the word as we are praising the Lord Most High, Yahweh, with absolute respect and love.
Have a great Wednesday ladies! If you need prayer or encouragement please don't hesitate to reach out. You are doing great!
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