Hallelujah!

"Halleluyah!
Praise Adonai from the heavens!
Praise Him in the highest!
2 Praise Him all His angels!
Praise Him all His armies.
3 Praise Him, sun and moon! 
Praise Him, all stars of light.
4 Praise Him, highest heavens,
and waters above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the Name of Adonai,
for He commanded and they were created.
6 He set them in place forever and ever.
He made a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise Adonai from the earth,
sea monsters and all depths,
8 fire and hail, snow and vapor,
    storm wind doing His bidding,
9 mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars,
10 beasts and all cattle,
    crawling things and winged birds,
11 kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of earth,
12 both young men and maidens,
    old men and children.
13 Let them praise the Name ofAdonai,
for His Name alone is exalted.
His glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for His people,
a praise for all His kedoshim,
for the children of Israel—
    a people near to Him.
Halleluyah!"
~Psalm 148

Much of the Book of Psalms is dedicated to praising God. In fact, depending on which version of the Bible you read, the word "praise" appears about 250 times. The original Jewish word for 'praise' is "hallel" (הַלְּלוּיָהּ), which translates as a "joyous praise in song, to boast in God." When combined with "Jah" (Jehovah) or "Yah" (Yahweh), 'Hallelujah' becomes a high praise to Jehovah God.

We praise God to give Him glory for all He has done in our lives, especially for what Jesus Christ did on the Cross at Calvary. Without that single death-defying act, humanity would be hopeless and hopelessly lost. Salvation is our only hope for a future not only on Earth but for an eternity spent with Christ in Heaven. But praising God is not just for us here on Earth - even the heavenly hosts shout praises to God! 

"Then I heard something like the voice of a great multitude—like the roar of rushing waters or like the rumbling of powerful thunder—saying, “Halleluyah! For Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot reigns! Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready, She was given fine linen to wear, bright and clean! For the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the kedoshim.” Then the angel tells me, “Write: How fortunate are those who have been invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!” He also tells me, “These are the true words of God.”  (Revelation 19:6-9)."

In the end, life as we know it will cease one way or the other. Either we will die and leave this Earth, or we will see the coming of the Lord, but no matter which it is, life here isn't all there is. We will all stand before God either for judgement or for everlasting life in Heaven shouting, "Hallelujah!"

As for me, I choose to begin now. Hallelujah to the Lord my Savior who loves me and gave His life so I will spend eternity with Him!

Read
Genesis 10:6-11:26
1 Chronicles 1:6-27

A Year of Blessings by Marie McGaha

©2018