Hallelujah! - Praise the Lord! Reflection
Often we might cry a proclamation of thanks and adoration, shouting "Hallelujah!". The Hebrew word means a joyous song of praise to boast about the Lord God. It is a term used mainly in the Psalms in the Bible. It is particularly used in Psalms 113-118 which are known as the Hallel. These are the psalms that would be sung as part of the Jewish festivals, - Passover, Shavuot and Succoth
It is a word both heard and sung by Jesus as he walked the land. Our reading of the Passover in the Gospel stories mentions Jesus and the disciples singing a hymn before walking across to Gethsemane. At the end of the Passover meal it was customary to sing the Hallel - Psalms 113-118
The brief reflections below may be considered daily perhaps through Lent. One of the "Hallelujah" verses are outlined along with a challenging question to meditate upon and examine ourselves. May you be encouraged to "Praise the Lord" knowing afresh who He is
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
When you worship, do you recognize God`s greatness? Do you give him the praise he deserves?
The psalmist encourages the servants of the LORD to praise his name. “Servant” was used in a variety of ways in the Bible, but the usage which fits this context is a “worshipper of God.” Praising His qualities, as creator
Glory and dominion belong to God through Jesus Christ
(1 Pet 4:11). In Revelation, John saw all creatures in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth say, “Blessing and honour and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13.
Psalm 113
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where
it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his
glory above the heavens.
Symbolising east where it rises to west where it sets, this encompasses the whole world of Jew and Gentile. Many are unaware that
one day they will be praising the Lord, but
the question remains as to whether they know Him intimately.
How do you worship God?
Do you worship him as often as you could?
My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 1:11
There is none equal to God. The gods of the psalmist’s day were not equal to God—they were wood and stone, they had no power, they could do nothing. The “gods” of our days are not equal to God—money cannot bring us salvation, our entertainment cannot cause the sun to rise, our houses cannot cause the rain, our cars do not give us the talent to earn a living.
Psalm 113
5 Who is like the Lord our God, the One who
sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens
and the earth?....
Do you serve the true God alone, or have you created your own gods?
3 You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above
or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; Exodus 20:3-4a
The previous verses honour God for who He is, but now the psalmist turns to what He has done. - The poor, needy, childless are seen and provided for. Their may be other areas in our lives that concern us, and have God`s gaze upon them.
Which section draws you more to praise the Lord? Is it the first which speaks of who He is or the second which speaks of what He does? Are we drawn to God because of His greatness or because of what He can do for us? In other words, is it about you /me or is it about God?
Psalm 113
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
There will always be poor people in the land. Deuteronomy 15:11
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
When God`s people moved into the unknown during the Exodus and into the Promised Land they were like refugees with hope of a new dawn.
How ready are you to move into the unknown?
Do you wish to escape from or move towards?
God`s way of accomplishing that miracle was so wonderful that the forces of nature, the foundations of the created order reacted in astonishing ways.
On the surface, those words are a reference to the parting of the Red Sea, the opening of dry land across the River Jordan and the smoking, shaking of Mt Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments, But on a deeper level, when Yahweh delivered His people, the whole order of nature was shaken, and reversed.
Psalm 114
3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
Are you expectant for the unexpected? How do you tend to respond to the unexpected?
Psalm 114
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.
verse 7 takes us to “Tremble, earth….” That word suggests both fear and joy, in God`s presence. God has always been here; He is, after all, the Maker of heaven and earth. Yet Jesus said that God is within us, by His Holy Spirit.
How aware are you of God`s presence in you and around you moment by moment?
Psalm 115
1.Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
The challenge again is one of focus.
The psalmist zooms in on the crux of the matter—either we are living for God or for ourselves.
Who deserves the glory?
What do you think and how do you feel when tested?
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts” (Psalm 17:3).
Psalm 115
11. You who fear him, trust in the Lord –
he is their help and shield.
The exhortation is to trust the LORD. This goes beyond regarding Him as trustworthy, and actually placing our trust, our confidence, our reliance in Him rather than in self or any idol.
How easy do you find it to trust? What helps or hinders your trust in another person.
How can your confidence in God grow?
There is confident assurance for those who make the LORD their help and shield. The Psalmist drew upon God’s past faithfulness and used it as confidence in God’s future blessing. He has not forgotten us in the past and He will not forget to bless us in the future.
Psalm 115
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
he will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord –
small and great alike.
Remind yourself of God`s faithfulness to you in the past How can that help you to have confidence now?
14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Yahweh is exalted above the idols of the nations. He alone has made heaven and earth. His Blessing is comprehensive.
The psalmist recognized God’s authority as Creator over both heaven and earth. He therefore has all the resources needed to help us to flourish.
Remind yourself of God`s faithfulness to you in the past How can that help you to have confidence now?
Psalm 115
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to the human race.
Though God has authority over earth as the Creator, He has given a significant dominion on the earth to humans.
This dominion given by God means that we should use the earth and its resources for the good of all humanity, as wise and thoughtful stewards. We can use, but we should not waste and destroy.
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.
The shortest Psalm in the Bible. God`s love and faithfulness endures in spite of circumstances all around which the following Psalm expresses.
The exhortation is to all peoples - Gentiles and Jews, that have faith in God to receive from Him, so reflecting Jesus` ministry.
God`s heart is for the nations. What would be required to raise the priority that you give to advancing the gospel to the nations?
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
Every day is a gift from God. And every day, even if a tough one, is full, rich and precious, with new opportunities and blessings.
It’s easier for us to recognize God’s hand and accept that it is acting in our life when everything is going well, when family and friends are in good shape, and when we are facing no significant economic, social problems, or indeed war and aggression.
Does the theme of God's enduring love resonate with your personal experiences?
How can the principles of the Psalm be applied to modern society's struggles?
Psalm 118
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
When troubles arise it is easy to drop our eyes to what is happening around us and become fearful, yet we are called to cry out to the Lord.
How can the lessons from Psalm 118 be used to handle conflicts and adversities in present-day living?
Psalm 118
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered
me; you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23 the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 The Lord has done it this very day;
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of
the Lord. From the house of the Lord we
bless you.
27 The Lord is God, and he has made his
light shine on us. With boughs in hand,
join in the festal procession up to the
horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Psalm 113
1 Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.
2 Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.
When you worship, do you recognize God`s greatness? Do you give him the praise he deserves?
The psalmist encourages the servants of the LORD to praise his name. “Servant” was used in a variety of ways in the Bible, but the usage which fits this context is a “worshipper of God.” Praising His qualities, as creator
Glory and dominion belong to God through Jesus Christ
(1 Pet 4:11). In Revelation, John saw all creatures in heaven, on the earth, and under the earth say, “Blessing and honour and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13.
Psalm 113
3 From the rising of the sun to the place where
it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.
4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his
glory above the heavens.
Symbolising east where it rises to west where it sets, this encompasses the whole world of Jew and Gentile. Many are unaware that
one day they will be praising the Lord, but
the question remains as to whether they know Him intimately.
How do you worship God?
Do you worship him as often as you could?
My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 1:11
There is none equal to God. The gods of the psalmist’s day were not equal to God—they were wood and stone, they had no power, they could do nothing. The “gods” of our days are not equal to God—money cannot bring us salvation, our entertainment cannot cause the sun to rise, our houses cannot cause the rain, our cars do not give us the talent to earn a living.
Psalm 113
5 Who is like the Lord our God, the One who
sits enthroned on high,
6 who stoops down to look on the heavens
and the earth?....
Do you serve the true God alone, or have you created your own gods?
3 You shall have no other gods before me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above
or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; Exodus 20:3-4a
The previous verses honour God for who He is, but now the psalmist turns to what He has done. - The poor, needy, childless are seen and provided for. Their may be other areas in our lives that concern us, and have God`s gaze upon them.
Which section draws you more to praise the Lord? Is it the first which speaks of who He is or the second which speaks of what He does? Are we drawn to God because of His greatness or because of what He can do for us? In other words, is it about you /me or is it about God?
Psalm 113
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.
Praise the Lord.
There will always be poor people in the land. Deuteronomy 15:11
Psalm 114
1 When Israel came out of Egypt,
Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.
When God`s people moved into the unknown during the Exodus and into the Promised Land they were like refugees with hope of a new dawn.
How ready are you to move into the unknown?
Do you wish to escape from or move towards?
God`s way of accomplishing that miracle was so wonderful that the forces of nature, the foundations of the created order reacted in astonishing ways.
On the surface, those words are a reference to the parting of the Red Sea, the opening of dry land across the River Jordan and the smoking, shaking of Mt Sinai at the giving of the Ten Commandments, But on a deeper level, when Yahweh delivered His people, the whole order of nature was shaken, and reversed.
Psalm 114
3 The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
4 the mountains leaped like rams,
the hills like lambs.
5 Why was it, sea, that you fled?
Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
6 Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
you hills, like lambs?
Are you expectant for the unexpected? How do you tend to respond to the unexpected?
Psalm 114
7 Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water.
verse 7 takes us to “Tremble, earth….” That word suggests both fear and joy, in God`s presence. God has always been here; He is, after all, the Maker of heaven and earth. Yet Jesus said that God is within us, by His Holy Spirit.
How aware are you of God`s presence in you and around you moment by moment?
Psalm 115
1.Not to us, Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
The challenge again is one of focus.
The psalmist zooms in on the crux of the matter—either we are living for God or for ourselves.
Who deserves the glory?
What do you think and how do you feel when tested?
“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests hearts” (Psalm 17:3).
Psalm 115
11. You who fear him, trust in the Lord –
he is their help and shield.
The exhortation is to trust the LORD. This goes beyond regarding Him as trustworthy, and actually placing our trust, our confidence, our reliance in Him rather than in self or any idol.
How easy do you find it to trust? What helps or hinders your trust in another person.
How can your confidence in God grow?
There is confident assurance for those who make the LORD their help and shield. The Psalmist drew upon God’s past faithfulness and used it as confidence in God’s future blessing. He has not forgotten us in the past and He will not forget to bless us in the future.
Psalm 115
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
he will bless his people Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord –
small and great alike.
Remind yourself of God`s faithfulness to you in the past How can that help you to have confidence now?
14 May the Lord cause you to flourish,
both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
Yahweh is exalted above the idols of the nations. He alone has made heaven and earth. His Blessing is comprehensive.
The psalmist recognized God’s authority as Creator over both heaven and earth. He therefore has all the resources needed to help us to flourish.
Psalm 115
16 The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to the human race.
Though God has authority over earth as the Creator, He has given a significant dominion on the earth to humans.
This dominion given by God means that we should use the earth and its resources for the good of all humanity, as wise and thoughtful stewards. We can use, but we should not waste and destroy.
Psalm 117
1 Praise the Lord, all you nations;
extol him, all you peoples.
2 For great is his love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord.
The shortest Psalm in the Bible. God`s love and faithfulness endures in spite of circumstances all around which the following Psalm expresses.
The exhortation is to all peoples - Gentiles and Jews, that have faith in God to receive from Him, so reflecting Jesus` ministry.
God`s heart is for the nations. What would be required to raise the priority that you give to advancing the gospel to the nations?
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4 Let those who fear the Lord say:
“His love endures forever.”
Every day is a gift from God. And every day, even if a tough one, is full, rich and precious, with new opportunities and blessings.
It’s easier for us to recognize God’s hand and accept that it is acting in our life when everything is going well, when family and friends are in good shape, and when we are facing no significant economic, social problems, or indeed war and aggression.
Does the theme of God's enduring love resonate with your personal experiences?
How can the principles of the Psalm be applied to modern society's struggles?
Psalm 118
5 When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6 The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7 The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
When troubles arise it is easy to drop our eyes to what is happening around us and become fearful, yet we are called to cry out to the Lord.
How can the lessons from Psalm 118 be used to handle conflicts and adversities in present-day living?
Psalm 118
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me. 14 The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
16 The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”