I was delighted to happen upon this new song. While looking for a certain other song in an old hymnal, this one popped up, like buried treasure — a find that makes me want to say, “Hallelujah!” Please give it a sing-along listen and come back for fascinating insight on this word, “hallelujah”.
What does “hallelujah” mean?
Here is a definition I found for “hallelujah”:
“Hallelujah” is a Hebrew word that literally means “praise ye Yah!” or “praise the Lord!”
It’s a two-part phrase:
- Hallelu (הַלְלוּ) means “praise ye!” or “praise!” (an imperative, commanding praise).
- Yah (יָהּ) is a shortened form of YHWH (Yahweh or Jehovah), which is a name for God in the Hebrew Bible.
While its literal meaning is a direct call to praise God, “hallelujah” also carries a deeper sense of joyous praise in song, a feeling of boasting in God, and an expression of gratitude. It’s often used as an interjection to express happiness, joy, or thanks, both in religious contexts and informally in everyday language when something positive happens.“
Hallelujah is a good word, would you agree?
Boasting in the Lord
In the definition for “hallelujah” these words grabbed my attention: “a feeling of boasting in God”. The Bible has a lot to say about boasting. Here is a sampling to ponder:
Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
[2 Corinthians 10:17-18 BSB]
But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth— for I delight in these things,”
[Jeremiah 9:24]
It seems that the person who gets “boasting in the Lord” working correctly is on the right path toward doing exploits like David did (recall Goliath), and like every other doer of great things in the Bible — including our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Boasting in the Lord” requires the right mix of humility and bravado — the stuff “more than conquerors” run on.
Jesus Christ both taught and demonstrated how humans are to walk with the Lord’s power — power made available to all who believe in him. We cannot boast the power comes from us, but we can receive and walk in the power the Lord gives. Let’s not miss that!
But what do we need all that power for? What is the game plan?
The “game plan”
All through history, people have worked to try to understand where the world is and where it is heading. Terms like “world view” and “eschatology” describe this kind of thinking. Some see the present and future as gloomy and gloomier. Others see the opposite, a bright present and glorious future. Who has it right? Sooner or later we will all know. That said, I’ll share a wonderfully optimistic and encouraging “game plan” many people through history, and even today, find Biblically sound. This game plan certainly provides a reason the Lord would make such amazing power available to all who believe. See what you think.
Many believe Daniel foretold that the things Jesus started about 2000 years ago on earth would continue to increase in power and scope forever and without interruption. Further, many believe that we are seeing the plan Daniel foretold develop with increasing clarity in our day and time. Daniel told the king about his dream:
“As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were shattered and became like chaff on the threshing floor in summer. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that had struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth….
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever. And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.
The dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
[Daniel 2:34,35,44,45]
Notice that Daniel told the king the stone would crush all those kingdoms, and become a great mountain and fill the whole earth, and that in the days of those kings God would set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed nor be left to another people. Jesus Christ was born “in the days of those kings”, during the fourth (and last) of those kingdoms. That was the start of what Daniel said would happen. Remember Daniel said there would be no end. There is much agreement among Bible believers that Jesus Christ is that rock Daniel prophesied of — and that what Jesus Christ started has been growing ever since, gaining ground and gaining influence. Doesn’t that sound like something our great big wonderful God would design? It sure does to me.
In his first sermon Jesus taught much about the Kingdom of Heaven. Why? Wasn’t the kingdom all just talk of the future, beyond their reach, and still beyond ours? Apparently Jesus did not think so. He read and understood Daniel, and he couldn’t wait to get started. Remember the prayer Jesus taught the disciples in those days? “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Was Jesus talking about something that would need to wait for another time in the future — or was it actually relevant from THAT time even until today, standing, as Daniel said, “forever”.
Here is the big question: Are we now waiting for some time in the future for the Rock, Jesus Christ, to act so God can set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed? Or did he already start that “in the days of those kings” as Daniel prophesied?
Speaking of waiting — some years after the start of the Church in the first century, Paul told the Romans, “The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.” [Romans 8:19]. What is creation waiting for? For Jesus to come back and get things rolling? No, that’s not what Paul says here. The sons of God are the actors creation waits for. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God …” [1 John 3:2]
Is our phone ringing?
Remember that stone that would become a great mountain and fill the whole earth? How could that stone — who we understand to be Jesus Christ — grow and expand and fill the whole earth? Look how Ephesians answers that: And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Where is the body of Christ? What have the members of the body been made able to do? Does this fit with what Jesus said, that the meek will inherit the earth? Salt and light, anyone? More than conquerors? “The works I do, you who believe on me will do also … and greater works” — Isn’t this a promise for a people who, as the body of Christ, would become part of a great mountain that grows and fills the earth, part of a kingdom set up by God that will never be destroyed and will stand forever?
But how can that be? You and I are mortal, and will not be here forever — well, as things stand now. But have you read about the new life and new bodies coming? If sleep interrupts our kingdom work with and for the Lord, we believe it is only temporary.
God’s got this!
Jesus Christ is the rock, that becomes the mountain. He is also the head of the body, and we are members in particular. Through Jesus Christ we are part of Daniel’s prophecy.
When we look around these days we see the action is heating up. More and more people are getting saved around the globe, and are moving with things of the Lord. The enemy — who, since antiquity, in some form or another have occupied the highest offices of every part of culture — are increasingly being exposed by the light, confronted, defeated and removed in remarkable ways. Do you see it? Things are moving. Let’s be in on it!
Makes me want to sing O Hallelujah!
God bless you lots
-Dale R.
LYRICS – O Hallelujah!
Anonymous – published in 1911
1. O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
I’m so glad to tell,
O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
With my soul ’tis well!
2. Washed in His everflowing fountain
I’m so glad to tell,
O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
With my soul ’tis well!
3. Abundant joy is in my heart now
I’m so glad to tell,
O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
With my soul ’tis well!
4. O for a thousand tongues to sing
Now I’m so glad to tell,
O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
With my soul ’tis well!
5. O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
I’m so glad to tell,
O Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
With my soul ’tis well!
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