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70. Hallelujah Praise Shout
Revelation 19.1-6
"After this, I heard what sounded like a great multitude's roar in heaven shouting, 'Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are just and true. He has condemned the great prostitute whose adulteries corrupted the earth. He has avenged his servants' blood on her.' Again they shouted, 'Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever.' The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell and worshiped God, seated on the throne. And they cried, 'Amen, Hallelujah!' Then a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Praise our God, all his servants, you who fear him, both great and small!' Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the rushing waters' roar, and like thunder peals, shouting 'Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.'" (Revelation 19.1-6) ✞
Great Heavenly Multitude
The hallelujah praise shout begins with "a great multitude's roar in heaven." We have already come upon two vast heavenly multitudes, the martyrs in Revelation 7.9 and the angels in Revelation 5.9-12. The angel assembly brings a hallelujah praise shout to God. In Ezra 3.11, when the people rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem, we read, "With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord, 'He is good, his love toward Israel endures forever.' And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord because they had laid the house of the Lord's foundation." Touchingly, the writer adds in Ezra 3.12, "But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping because the people made so much noise. And people heard the sound far away." ✞
Hallelujah
This praise shout begins with "hallelujah," a popular religious word today that only appears four times in the scriptures and all in this one Revelation chapter. "Hallelujah" is like "hosanna" or the Hebrew "Hoshana." Hosanna means "help" or "save, I pray," as in Psalm 118.25, "Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!" "Hallelujah" is one of only a few Hebrew words established in the modern English religious language. Hallelujah probably becomes so well known through its use as a praise response in the Early Church's Easter worship services. "Hallelujah" literally means "praise God." Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew words "Hallel," meaning "to praise," and "Jah," "the name of God." "Hallelujah" therefore means "praise the name of God." Although the words "hallelujah praise" appear only in Revelation, they occur elsewhere in a different translated form. ✞
Hallel Psalms
"Hallelujah" is the first phrase in Psalms 106, 111-113, 117, 135, and 146-150. Psalms 113-118 are called the "Hallel Psalms" and are part of every Jewish boy's essential education. Where "hallelujah" occurs in the Old Testament, it is translated by "Praise God." But here in this Revelation chapter, the original Hebrew form, "hallelujah," is retained. ✞
Salvation Glory Power
"Salvation, glory, and power" belong to God. These are God's three great attributes. Each of these three great attributes should awaken our hearts' response. "God's salvation" should release our gratitude for the sacrifice of the crucified Jesus. "God's glory" should evoke our reverence for the Creation greatness all around us. "God's power" should awaken our trust in him alone. These three are the constituent elements of genuine praise. In Revelation 19, God receives recognition for his "true and just judgments" on the Great Harlot. Judgment is sin's inescapable consequence. God's decisions are "true and just." T. S. Kepler (1838-1912) wrote that one could no more break the moral law than the law of gravity. God alone was and is a perfect judge and knows our innermost thoughts and desires. God alone has the purity to judge without prejudice, the wisdom to genuinely feel, and the power to apply it. ✞
Tumultuous Praise Shout
A tumultuous praise shout, "The Almighty Reigns," goes up to God from the multitude like a rushing water roar or a thunder peal. The Great Harlot, the world corrupter, is therefore judged. The worst of all sins is to teach others to sin. The other reason for rejoicing is that Rome's judgment guarantees God would never abandon his own. Praise is the heartfelt response of those who love God. The more you get to know God and realize what he does for you, the more you respond with praise. The praise shout is at the heart of true worship. Let your praise flow out of your realization of who God is and how much God loves you. The heavenly multitude initiates the praise shout to God for his victory. Heaven's assembly roars, "Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God." The twenty-four elders join the chorus, and the great heavenly choir once again praises God! ✞
"Hallelujah Praise Shout"
by Ron Meacock © 2021
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