Hallelujah!

Psalm 149:1-4

1Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song.

Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful.

2O Israel, rejoice in your Maker.

O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.

3Praise his name with dancing,

accompanied by tambourine and harp.

4For the LORD delights in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

The last five psalms all begin and end with the same word in Hebrew: Hallelujah! In English, of course, it means, “Praise the Lord!”

In December the glorious strains of Handel’s Messiah will ring forth, with its “Hallelujah Chorus” as the thrilling high point. Over fifty times the word Hallelujah is sung.

When the “Hallelujah Chorus” was developing in George Frideric Handel’s mind, he said, “I did think I saw all heaven before me and the great God himself!” But Handel’s circumstances looked quite dismal. Though he had been a successful musician earlier in his life, he had gone bankrupt, and by the time he was in his fifties, his career seemed behind him. He began writing biblical oratorios, composing his Messiah when he was fifty-six.

Can you imagine how he must have felt when the king of England attended the performance of his new oratorio and rose to his feet at the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus”? All the audience stood as well, starting a custom that is still followed today.

In Psalm 149 the psalmist begins by praising God and then finds, in verse 4, blessing coming back upon him. That’s what Handel discovered, too, and you’ll discover it as well. Always start by taking time to praise God, and don’t worry if your “Hallelujah Chorus” does not sound like Handel’s. With a chorus of angels behind you, it will sound great.

Though high above all praise,

Above all blessing high,

Who would not fear his holy name,

And praise and magnify.

JAMES MONTGOMERY

Bible Networking

In the Old Testament, people often expressed religious joy through dancing. See Exodus 15:20 and 2 Samuel 6:16.

Notable Quotable

“When the Lord saves a soul, its holy joy overflows; and it cannot find channels enough for its exceeding gratitude.”

CHARLES HADDON SPURGEON