An Inconvenient Bible Truth!

The theory is that the first use of a word in Christian scripture has special significance for the meaning and use of that word in the rest of scripture. With that theory in mind let us take a look at the much abused word ‘Hallelujah’.

The first use of the ‘Hallelujah’ occurs at the end of Psalm 104.

Ps 104:33-35

33 I will sing to the LORD all my life;

I will sing praise to my God while I live.

34 May my meditation be pleasing to Him;

I will rejoice in the LORD.

35 May sinners vanish from the earth

and the wicked be no more.

My soul, praise the LORD!

Hallelujah!

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

Please notice that which elicits the exuberant shout from the people of God, that being the vanquishing of the wicked by the LORD God. Try that shout of praise in this world today and one would probably be locked up. One might protest and respond, “Well, that is the Old Testament, we don’t live under the Old Testament…we are New Testament believers! Our God is a God of Love and we are taught to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. We should never rejoice at the destruction of wicked people! And when they do their wickedness we should be the first to rush out with words of forgiveness. That is what God would have us do!”

Let us then take a look at the first witness of the New Testament, the first time the ‘Hallelujah’ is used in the New Testament.

Rev 19:1-8

1 After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying:

Hallelujah!

Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God,

2 because His judgments are true and righteous, because He has judged the notorious prostitute

who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and He has avenged the blood of His servants that was on her hands.

3 A second time they said:

Hallelujah!

Her smoke ascends forever and ever!

4 Then the 24 elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying:

Amen! Hallelujah!

5 A voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, both small and great!

6 Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying:

Hallelujah — because our Lord God, the Almighty,

has begun to reign!

7 Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and His wife has prepared herself.

8 She was permitted to wear fine linen, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints.

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers.)

What we see is all of heaven and earth rejoicing at the destruction of the wicked ‘Babylon’ for her harm done to the people of God. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!!!”

Hummmmm. I don’t remember that song being sung recently on the radio or in our assemblies, “Hallelujah, for our God has destroyed the wicked! Hallelujah!”

Quite different than the osshie/gooshie stuff we lift up to our King.

So...in both the Old and New Testaments the first use of the 'Hallulujah' is used in reference to the saints of God rejoicing at the destruction of the wicked. Very interesting.

XtnYoda Shalomed