Hallelujah! - This literally means "Praise (Hallal) the Lord!' (Yahweh). It is the universal invitation to praise as it is transliterated in every language. As Nicky Gumbel rightly observes, each of the last five Psalms opens and ends with a call to "Praise the Lord!" [Hallelujah!] Why? Because "it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful" (147:1, NKJV). Praise is befitting for God because: "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite" (147:5, NKJV). It is not enough for the heavenly hosts and inanimate creation to declare His praise (148:1-9). Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (150:6). While we are alive and have our being we must sing God's praises (146:2).
The praises of God cannot just be pondered or whispered. They must be expressed with joyful singing and dancing. "Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation" (Psalm 149:3-4, NKJV). In the privacy of our homes, in the congregation of the saints, even on the battlefield (or workplace), we can rejoice in God's glory and pour forth His praise with singing. "Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints" (149:1b) ... "Let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand" (149:5b-6).
Human as we are, with swing moods and changing circumstances, we will not always feel like praising God. The song writers show us over and again that our souls can be downcast and dejected. But in such moments, we are to invite, draw or motivate our inner man to shake off the heaviness and give God the praise that is due Him. In the Psalms, David illustrates how we too can praise God. Our inner being is stirred to praise as we recall, reflect on and recite God's goodness, His greatness and His mighty works. We allow God's praise to rise as we exalt him above the doubts, fears and lying schemes of the enemy in our hearts and minds. We can draw from the testimonies of the past, His edifying work in our marriages and work in the recent 21 days, and the awe-inspiring works He's bringing about in the months ahead.
Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And all that is [deep] within me, bless His holy name. Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul, And do not forget any of His benefits. Psalm 103:1-2, AMP
I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145: 1-3, NLT
I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. Psalm 145:5-7, NLT
Moreover, the Holy Spirit has been given to help us in praise so that God may be glorified through our lives. Isaiah prophesies that the Spirit of the Lord had anointed and commissioned Him to comfort all who mourn in Zion: "to give them a beautiful bouquet in the place of ashes, the oil of bliss instead of tears, and the mantle of joyous praise instead of the spirit of heaviness." (Isaiah 61:3, TPT). The Hebrew word "tehillah" translated as praise in this verse involves music with singing and instruments. In 1 Samuel 16, we see a demonstration of music displacing the spirit of heaviness when the tormenting spirit in Saul was expelled as David played his harp. May the Spirit of the Lord anoint you afresh with an oil of joy. May He adorn you with a garment of praise to dispel every heaviness in your life.
Often, we are moved to praise God when victory is in sight. But Jehoshaphat teaches us in 2 Chronicles 20 that praise lifted in advance of our battles is itself a weapon for victory. In spite of all the threats and taunts of the great armies that had surrounded Judah, this king chose to respond with praise. He went to the courtyard of the Temple and declared the greatness of the Lord before the community of Judah. He recounted the mighty acts of God in delivering Israel from Egypt and driving out the peoples that occupied the Promised Land. He handed the battle over to God confessing how powerless they were before the attacking nations. He looked to the Lord for help and the Lord confirmed that He was with them and the battle was His.
"Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout. Early the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the way Jehoshaphat stopped and said, “Listen to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets, and you will succeed.
After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor. This is what they sang: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!” At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves." 2 Chronicles 20:18-22, NLT
Praises provide a throne for God to sit as King and manifest His power in our situation. As Psalm 22:3 says He is enthroned on the praises of His people. When we praise God, He moves from being a mere guest to being a King. And in His royal capacity, He takes over our battles and enforces victory for us. If I were you, I won't wait to hold my baby before declaring His praise. I will deploy praise in advance even when I do not see how the situation will be turned around.
Two months before my national service ended, a high-ranking employee notified me about an opportunity at one of the institution's branch. He also asked another colleague to assist me to get the offer but some days later, this facilitator seemed upset with me for no apparent reason. This stalled the processing of documents and I got disturbed and anxious as the week passed by. As I stood in church that Sunday, a question dropped in my spirit: "Don’t you have a cause to praise God?"
Being a very diplomatic guy, I never danced in church: I would only clap and swing my shoulders left to right like a pendulum. But that day, I moved to the front of the auditorium and danced like never before. This unusual act caught the attention of many and some asked me the reason for my praise. Sincerely, I didn’t know why but I was so excited to praise the Lord. The following afternoon, I was given a letter for a work-related medical examination. In spite of the longstanding trend of unemployment, God secured me a job before service ended. Little did I know that I was praising God in advance of a job.
Praise is the catalyst that will speed up the manifestation of your miracle. Paul and Silas praised God right in prison, though they had every reason to grumble because they had been arrested for preaching the Gospel. As they prayed and sang songs of praise, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prisons: at once all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened (Acts 16:25-26). Whatever situation you have been locked in previously, is turning around as you also add praises to all the prayers you have lifted in this season.
Like Hannah, you have been pouring your heart desires before the Lord in prayer. In previous bulletins, you've understood that God is more than able and willing to extend his gracious kindness and mercy to you. You have assurances from His Word that in Christ you have grace and favour in His sight and that He shall give what you have asked in Jesus' name. Your heart desires have been heard by the Father and He is responding with a well-timed breakthrough. You have every reason to praise God. Therefore, arise and exclaim your gratitude to God. Let every shade of sadness be lifted off your face. Enter the days ahead with a changed countenance, knowing that the Lord will surely fulfill His promises to you.
"Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” Hannah said, “Let your maidservant find grace and favor in your sight.” So the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad." 1 Samuel 1:17-18, AMP
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 145, Isaiah 61:1-3 and Philippians 4:4-8