Word Study: Hallelujah- Part 2

Yesterday we started a discussion on the word hallelujah, which means praise the Lord, or halal the Lord. When we halal the Lord we praise, celebrate, glory, sing and shout to our God. Hallelujah is a Hebrew word found in the Old Testament. There is a New Testament equivalent: alleluia, which is derived from hallelujah. We see this word in Revelation 19:1,3,4, and 6 in what we might call the alleluia chorus of heaven.

And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: Revelation 19:1 (KJV)

And again they said, Alleluia And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.  And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. Revelation 19:3-4 (KJV)

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6 (KJV)

The Old Testament hallelujah is carried over into the New Testament as alleluia. Psalms 146 through 150, which we learned are sometimes called the Hallelujah Psalms, were sung by Jesus and his disciples during passover- at the last supper. Jesus sang the praises of God and we are to follow in His footsteps. He was a worshipper and He still is. Jesus now worships the Father through the church. In Revelation 19, we see that the alleluia (or hallelujah) chorus of praise continues forever and ever.

It is interesting to note that Psalms 146-150 speak of the works and judgment of God, and Revelation 19 speaks of this as well. As we praise the Lord, we release Him to work in our lives and bring judgment on the enemy. As we praise, we enforce the King and His kingdom rule in us and through us, and we advance His kingdom now and forever.

Hallelujah, or alleluia, is the highest praise and will never end. It is the strongest praise that nothing can withstand. It lifts us higher and higher in Him and brings us into His very presence. We see in Revelation 19 that they flow from praise to worship. Our praise to God brings us into His presence where we humble ourselves before Him in worship. Therefore, we say, “Alleluia, praise the Lord, for the Lord God omnipotent, almighty, all-powerful reigns!”