(Delivered on 08th, Oct, 2017 @ Sunday Morning Service, Serampore College)
Introduction: I would like to begin my short message by making a humble request; but please note that - I make this request only to those who can follow me willingly without any hesitation.
So, the request is – I’m going to shout 3 times, and as I shout, I also request you to shout after me….HALLELUIJAH!!
Friends, ‘Hallelujah’ is the theme I chose for this morning meditation. It is also the subject matter why I’m standing here, before you and before God.
________________________________________________________________________________
If we open the bible, the term ‘Hallelujah’ is used 24 times in the Hebrew Bible (in the book of Psalms), twice in deutero-canonical books, and four times in the book of revelation
In the Hebrew Bible hallelujah is actually a two-word phrase, not one word. The first part, hallelu, is the second-person imperative masculine plural form of the Hebrew verb hillel which means a joyous praise in song, to boast in God. And moreover, Hallel could also refer to someone who acts madly or foolishly.
The second part, Yah, is a shortened form of YHWH, the name for the Creator - God. But, this name ceased to be pronounced in Second Temple Judaism, by the 3rd century BC due to religious beliefs. The correct pronunciation is not known, however, it is rendered by Christians as "Yahweh" or "Jehovah".
Therefore the meaning of the term ‘Hallelujah or halleluiah’ (as we all know) is ‘praise the Lord’.
To begin with the theme, let me tell you certain reasons why I chose this theme, and some significant points why I’m using this theme for today’s meditation;
1. ( I do not know whether you are aware of the fact that) - We hardly hear crowd of people shouting ‘Hallelujah’ like a place where we, people of God are living, a place where many people of God are doing their future ministerial training.
Of course, we sing songs of praises in our gathering; we also adore his glorious name by reciting scriptures and by doing other items. But, shouting ‘halleluiah’ from the depth of our hearts might not be heard in the midst of God’s people and in our gathering. So with this conviction, I would say, we, people of God must shout to the Lord. At least, once in a year, we should shout ‘Hallelujah’ to the Lord.
2. Praising the name of the most high with making the sound of ‘hallelujah’ has a power to release our anxiety and other related problems.
We sometimes fill with various forms of anxieties and different concerns– burdensome, stress, trauma, tiresome, unhappiness, mood off, etc due to financial problems, sleeplessness, suspicion, health problems, temporal or spiritual insecurity or weaknesses, etc. Whatever the reasons may be, as a result, we imprisoned ourselves by these powers which by existence we received not from above but from this temporal world.
Therefore, friends; we should praise God, because – praising the name of the Lord can help our weaknesses, it can lifting up on high our hearts and minds. It also can restore and heal broken hearted. It is indeed, like a secret field/place where many heavenly treasures are hidden.
Illustration: In 2004, when I was serving in one pastorate, I stay alone in a big newly built pastor’ quarters. One night at around 9:30PM I sat on a chair introspecting myself, and by that moment I felt very lonely and at the same time felt unworthy to serve God because of certain thing I have come across. I was totally weak and felt hopeless. In the meantime, when I was still on my chair, I heard a voice that came from far distance, and it was a sound of singing by a choir - Halleluiah…halleluiah…halleluiah. When the sound struck my mind, this simple sound produced by our local choir who had been practicing a song inside the church building, could all at once release all my anxieties. I felt very wonder when I experience the power of ‘praise’ because the song I heard from far distance did not only released all my anxieties but also gave me a new strength and hope.
Therefore, friends I once again would like to remind you – the sound and our deliberation for praising God has a power for ourselves as well as for others to set a person free from various bondages. It also has a power to heal our wounds and pains and at the same time release our unhealthy thoughts.
3. In II Chronicle 20:1ff here we see - Dramatic triumph in sacral war. This triumph and victory was experienced by Israelite under the kingship of King Jehoshaphat.
What had happened?
When messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, "A great multitude was coming against him from Edom, from beyond the sea”. Jehoshaphat was afraid; therefore, he set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Then he prayed to God saying – “we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."
Then after when Jahaziel, one of the members among the crowd received the message of the Lord, then (in short) on the next day, they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out; Jehoshaphat appointed some people to sing to the Lord, then as they began to sing and praise singing - "Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever." The Lord God who is always at the side of his people stretched out his hands, therefore victory and triumph was given at the hands of Jehoshaphat and his people.
What significance does this particular story has provided to us?
Obviously, the story tells us that singing and praising God has a power to destroy the stronghold of powerful army. It can give us triumph and victory over our enemies. It also can wipe out the power of darkness and all forms of evil. Praising of God can be the source of our strength.
Illustration: In 430 AD, Bishop Germenous, who once was a Roman Army officer before he became a bishop, was sent by the church to Britain due to the widespread and threatening of pelagianism (Pelagianism is one of the heretical teachings that believed and taught that original sin did not contaminate/pollute human nature and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil without special divine aid. ... they also hold the view that human beings can earn salvation by their own efforts). So that Germenous can keep save the churches in Britain from the danger of this heresy.
However, as he continues to stay in Britain; he sometimes involved with the army who fought against Pax and Saxon; people who used to come and invaded some parts of the Land in Britain. Therefore, as time passed, war broke out between British Army and this people, and Bishop Germenous was one of the leaders. During this time when Pax and Saxon people heard the sound of war cry shouted by British army under the leadership of Bishop Germenous, by hearing this sound, their hearths became melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them to stand before armies of Germenous. So, they were defeated, and the sound they heard was only ‘HALLELUIAH, HALLELUIAH’.
When God’s people shout to the Lord – halleluiah, praise the Lord…enemies of God’s people become scramble and feel nervous. They may also become powerless to defeat us.
4. When Jesus, when he was on earth, perfumed miracles and many wonders; at the end of his ministries what we usually found is ‘after seeing and witnessing these wonders/miracles performed by him, all the people gathered around him praise and rejoice in the Lord.
What does this means - ‘Seeing the wonder performed by Jesus and exalting his name at the end’? It is only a sign of extreme happiness shown by people; it is also reverential action shown by people for the wonderful works performed by God. Likewise, when people see and realise wonderful things happened around them, immediate response we often see out of their happiness is some outward actions, like – crying, shouting, body movement, and other actions, etc.
Therefore friends, if we/someone happened to encounter with God and experience His direct intervention/involvement in his/her/our life; how can someone/we resist the wonderful work of God without giving appropriate respond of praise to it.
Now, let us also realise once again; how wonderful Jesus is in our life. Isaiah 53:5 says - he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.
Now; we are healed by his bruises, we are cleansed by his blood, we are forgiven by his sacrificial offering. It is probably by knowing this wonderful work of God, Peter (2:9-10) also boastfully exclaimed; saying - But now you become a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people,…Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Therefore, according to Peter, we are given a new identity.
Can we profane or treat with irreverence this new identity given by Jesus. Rather we must praise his name; we must adore his magnificent name. He is our creator, who sustain us, who keep watching his people, who knows our weakness and accepted us as to who we are.
The psalmist says (Ps 103:1-4) – Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits — he forgives all your iniquity, he heals all your diseases, he redeems your life from the Pit, he is also the one who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy.
Therefore, Let us make a joyful noise to the Lord. HALLELUIAH!
