Hallelujah!

Messiah is George Frederick Handel’s most famous work. It tells the story of Jesus – the Messiah. Part Two is about his death on the cross, his resurrection and his ascension into heaven.

The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament – each of them in our passage for today.

The Hallelujah psalms

Psalm 148:1-6

At secular music concerts, football games and other big sporting events, we see extraordinary scenes of exuberant enthusiasm. Yet all these should pale into insignificance compared to our exuberant worship of God.

The opening words of this psalm are, ‘Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven’ (v.1, MSG). The last five psalms (Psalm 146–150) each begin and end with ‘Hallelujah’. The Psalms, as with the New Testament and the whole Bible, end with exuberant praise, blessing and delight.

‘Hallelujah! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights. Praise him, all his angels’ (v.1b–2a, HCSB).

Even the angels praise God. As we will see in our New Testament passage for today, John, when he saw one of the angels, fell at his feet to worship him (the angel). But the angel said to him, ‘Do not do it! I am a fellow-servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!’ (Revelation 19:10).

As with all the psalms, it can naturally turn into your own prayer and praise:

‘Praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord’ (Psalm 148:2b–5a).