HALLELUJAH

“After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for just and true are his judgments’ … Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great.’ Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.’”

Hallelujah occurs four times in Revelation 19:1-6 but nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from two Hebrew words meaning “Praise the Lord.” Why is it used here? What is the occasion for praising the Lord? What would be the occasion for us to praise the Lord? What reasons would we have for praising the Lord? In these difficult times of a contagious virus, political divisions, conflict over many things, unemployment and hardship, how can we praise? Revelation was given the apostle John to encourage the faithful. He gave them many reasons for being able to praise the Lord despite their difficulties, their suffering, and their challenges in life. He does the same for us.

Reason 1: We praise the Lord because the Lord God almighty reigns and his glory is given to no other. He only is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No leader, emperor, general or celebrity can seek such glory and power. Only he is true and just. God passed judgment on the pagan Roman Empire and all systems of abuse, tyranny and materialistic idolatry. Chapters 16-18 of Revelation are prophecies about the decline and fall of Rome, (disguised as Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth), modeled on similar prophecies about the destruction of Tyre in Ezekiel 27 and Babylon in other Old Testament passages.

All earthly societies and governments that seek to take the place of God and lead it astray from love of the true God and love of neighbor will be eventually destroyed. Only the Word of God, who is Faithful and True is to be worshipped. We praise the Lord for he only is worthy to be praised. By praising him we are lifted up into the eternal worship of heaven. Praise transforms us. It lifts us from self-absorption and preoccupation with our anxieties and fears into awareness of something greater than ourselves.

Reason 2: We praise the Lord for the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. We can look forward beyond the troubles of this life to the consummation and bliss of our union with Christ. Just as the bride spends much time in preparing for her wedding and all that it entails and enjoys the anticipation of the ceremony and the day, so we spend our time on earth preparing for that great day.

Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom (Matt.9:15). “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her by the washing of water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain and wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” (Ephesians 5:25-27) “Christ’s love made the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness.” (The Message) We do not fear death because it ushers us into the presence of Christ.

Everything that precedes the wedding day is designed for it. In this life we make ourselves ready for that glorious occasion. We can praise the Lord that we have a goal, a future consummation for which we can work. We can look forward to that great day. This life is a preparation for the next. We have something wonderful to look forward to.

Reason 3: The metaphor changes from us being the bride to being the wedding guest. We praise the Lord because we are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. Jesus tells the parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). Many were invited by the king to the banquet but refused to come. They declined the invitation from the king. He renewed his invitation but they paid him no attention and mistreated and even killed his servants who delivered the invitations. The king sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. He then sent out invitations to all on the streets and provided them with wedding clothes appropriate for the occasion. One guest refused his host’s provision and was thrown out. Jesus said, “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”

All who hear the gospel are invited to the wedding banquet, but not all who hear respond in faith. Those who do respond to the invitation recognize the privilege of being invited because they realize their disqualifications, their sinfulness, their unworthiness. But the Lord graciously provides us with a covering, so that we can participate without any embarrassment. We are covered with the grace of Christ. We praise God for inviting us and providing for us.

What reasons do you have for praising the Lord?

Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits –

Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Psalm 103)

What is the takeaway for being a Christian? Can you be a praising follower of Jesus? If you were asked why you were a Christian what would you say? Do you have a testimony you can share? “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) What reasons do you have for praising the Lord? These are mine.

I want to live for the highest and best purpose I can in the years God has given me on this earth. I don’t want to waste my life. God who created me has the highest and best purpose for my life. He knows what is best for me. I trust him. He has given me the unearned, undeserved, gift of faith in him. This gift is called grace.

“He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing in Christ. He chose me in him before the creation of the world, to be holy in his sight. In love he predestined me to be adopted as his son through Jesus Christ. He lavished on me all wisdom and understanding.” (Eph.1:3-10)

I am a miserable, Hell-deserving, sinner who needs redemption: forgiveness and transformation. God loved me so much that he came in Jesus to die for my sins and to give me his empowering Spirit. He has given me his written Word, the Bible to reveal himself to me, to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, guide me equip me, train me in righteousness, and nourish my spirit. He has given me his family, the Church, to encourage and support me in my journey.

He has never let me down, even though I have let him down on many occasions. He has blessed me with a wonderful wife and family, and many friends. He has given me the privilege of communicating his Gospel for over fifty years. I have never lacked opportunity to serve him and others. He has generously provided for me wherever I have lived. He has prepared a place for me in his holy city, the new Jerusalem. No one can snatch me from his hand, nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. Do I have enough reasons for praising the Lord? Do you? What is your testimony?

You may not have these reasons. You may not have been blessed in the same way as I have. You may have suffered more and endured difficult circumstances. You may carry secret sorrows. I do not mean to minimize your suffering. My prayer is that you may arrive at that point in your life when you can praise the Lord, when that promise becomes real for you.

(Excerpted from Ted Schroder, SOUL FOOD, Vol.4)