Sunday, December 8, 2013

Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "alleluia". It is found only 4 times in the Bible, all in the 19th chapter of Revelation. Revelation 19:1-6:

19 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: 2 For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 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. KJV


This is the Greek word "allelouia". It is a compound of the Greek word "halal", which we have covered before as "praise". Strong's Concordance says: to shine, to make a show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to stultify (make to appear foolish). The second half of "allelouia" is the Greek word "Yahh", which is a Name for God and is a contraction for the Name "Jehovah", according to Strong's Concordance. Jehovah means "the Eternal, Self-existing One", according to Strong's, and is the Covenant Name of God. All of the Names that follow "Jehovah" show a need that He is meeting, such as health, protection, salvation. So, basically, "allelouia" means to "praise the God of the Covenant"! We would most commonly say "Hallelujah", as we see in the Amplified Bible:

1 AFTER THIS I heard what sounded like a mighty shout of a great crowd in heaven, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! Salvation and glory (splendor and majesty) and power (dominion and authority) [belong] to our God! 2 Because His judgments (His condemnation and punishment, His sentences of doom) are true and sound and just and upright. He has judged (convicted, pronounced sentence, and doomed) the great and notorious harlot (idolatress) who corrupted and demoralized and poisoned the earth with her lewdness and adultery (idolatry). And He has avenged (visited on her the penalty for) the blood of His servants at her hand.  [Deut 32:43.] 3 And again they shouted, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! The smoke of her [burning] shall continue to ascend forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities).  [Isa 34:10.] 4 Then the twenty-four elders [of the heavenly Sanhedrin] and the four living creatures fell prostrate and worshiped [paying divine honors to] God, Who sits on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! 5 Then from the throne there came a voice, saying, Praise our God, all you servants of His, you who reverence Him, both small and great!  [Ps 115:13.] 6 After that I heard what sounded like the shout of a vast throng, like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of terrific and mighty peals of thunder, exclaiming, Hallelujah (praise the Lord)! For now the Lord our God the Omnipotent (the All-Ruler) reigns! AMP

As you continue to freely praise HIM without restraint, I believe that all of the aspects of HIS person and the blessings of the Covenant will become more real to you every day! I saw this on Facebook and thought you would like this Christmas version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" performed by Cloverton:


I've heard about this baby boy
Who's come to earth to bring us joy
And I just want to sing this song to you
It goes like this, the fourth, the fifth
The minor fall, the major lift
With every breath I'm singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A couple came to Bethlehem
Expecting child, they searched the inn
To find a place for You were coming soon
There was no room for them to stay
So in a manger filled with hay
God's only Son was born, oh Hallelujah
Hallelujah

The shepherds left their flocks by night
To see this baby wrapped in light
A host of angels led them all to You
It was just as the angels said
You'll find Him in a manger bed
Immanuel and Savior, Hallelujah
Hallelujah

A star shown bright up in the east
To Bethlehem, the wisemen three
Came many miles and journeyed long for You
And to the place at which You were
Their frankincense and gold and myrrh
They gave to You and cried out Hallelujah
Hallelujah

I know You came to rescue me
This baby boy would grow to be
A man and one day die for me and you
My sins would drive the nails in You
That rugged cross was my cross, too
Still every breath You drew was Hallelujah
Hallelujah 

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!