“Hallel” means “to praise.”
“Yah” is short for “Yahweh.”
“Y” is substituted for “J” in Hebrew.
The Hebrew letter for “Y” can sound like “J.”
During Lent, Christians in many churches fast from saying “hallelujah” or “alleluia” since that joyful response doesn’t seem in keeping with the solemnity of the occasion. This reservation intends to maximize and make more meaningful the burst of joy and praise that’s highly appropriate for Easter. So, in this unique situation, the lack of hallelujahs is meant to honor God.
Throughout most of the year, however, we honor God by vocalizing our praise. Each new day brings reminders of things to be thankful for, individually. For instance, Christians in a flooded area will likely praise God when the rain stops, while those in an area of severe drought will shout “Hallelujah!” when rains begin to come.
Whether individually or corporately, each day brings little and large reminders to honor God with our hallelujahs. For example:
When a brilliant sunset bursts through the clouds
When the fragrance of Spring flowers fills the air
When a choir or blend of harmonious voices sounds angelic
When a couple celebrate decades of marriage
When God protects us in a storm
When a person turns away from wrongs
When an estranged loved one returns home
When God answers our prayers
When someone dedicates his or her life to Christ
When the Holy Spirit descends mightily upon a church, a family, a community, or us
If those examples remind you of hallelujahs in your life that honor God, we’d be honored to hear about them in the Comments below.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come to You this Easter week with gratitude, joy, and praise for the gift of Your Be-loved Son, Jesus Christ, Who rose from death and opened the way for us to spend eternal life living with You in Your Kingdom. We praise You for Your power. We praise You for Your glory. Hallelujah! The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen indeed. Hallelujah!
Amen.
Leave a Reply