Hallelujah!
In our Disciple class, we've been reading the psalms the last few weeks, and we've been remembering again that the call of the psalms is to praise God in any and every situation. Bad times? Praise God. Good times? Praise God. Times of struggle, times of loss, times of indecision? Praise God. The message is simple: hallelujah! Praise be to God! I think that's what affected me so much last night: in this nearly 300-year-old song, the message was so clear. Praise God.
Then, last night I went to the choral "holiday" concert at the high school....Christopher's last holiday concert. (We're doing a lot of "lasts" these days...) As is the tradition, at the end of the concert, the director invited any Portage choir alumni to come to the stage to join in the singing of the Hallelujah chorus. The stage, as usual, was filled to the brim (and even overflowing) with singers who boldly proclaimed the words Handel took from Revelation:
I've heard this chorus sung many, many, many times. I have participated in singing it several times myself. And I'm always humbled by these words, this melody. Last night, I found myself watching and listening and getting goosebumps (which doesn't happen to me very often!) as I heard the praises of God going up from the stage of the high school.
There is something powerful in these centuries-old words and music. It's not because the music is old; it's because the message is simple. It's the same chorus as the psalms: Hallelujah! Praise God!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy much of the modern Christian "pop" praise. There are modern songs that make me smile and songs that draw me nearer to Jesus. But I seriously doubt that in 272 years, any of the songs we hear on the radio today will still be sung. Many of the songs we sing in church today will be a distant memory. It's "pop" worship music for a reason. It's made for "now," not for generations.
And people may or may not be singing Handel in 272 more years, I don't know. But I do know this: should Christ tarry, the simple chorus of "hallelujah" will still be ringing out from God's people. Not necessarily "The Hallelujah Chorus," but the praise of the God of the universe will still ring out from the creation, just as we continue to read and pray and sing the psalms all these centuries later. It's a simple calling, this call to hallelujah, yet it's one we often forget.
As we venture closer to the manger, may you find your heart consumed with one simple cry: Hallelujah!
(I hope to post the video of last night's performance later today. I'll update this page when I do.)
Then, last night I went to the choral "holiday" concert at the high school....Christopher's last holiday concert. (We're doing a lot of "lasts" these days...) As is the tradition, at the end of the concert, the director invited any Portage choir alumni to come to the stage to join in the singing of the Hallelujah chorus. The stage, as usual, was filled to the brim (and even overflowing) with singers who boldly proclaimed the words Handel took from Revelation:
Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Almighty reigns!
And he shall reign forever and ever!
King of Kings! Lord of Lords!
Hallelujah!
I've heard this chorus sung many, many, many times. I have participated in singing it several times myself. And I'm always humbled by these words, this melody. Last night, I found myself watching and listening and getting goosebumps (which doesn't happen to me very often!) as I heard the praises of God going up from the stage of the high school.
There is something powerful in these centuries-old words and music. It's not because the music is old; it's because the message is simple. It's the same chorus as the psalms: Hallelujah! Praise God!
Don't get me wrong. I enjoy much of the modern Christian "pop" praise. There are modern songs that make me smile and songs that draw me nearer to Jesus. But I seriously doubt that in 272 years, any of the songs we hear on the radio today will still be sung. Many of the songs we sing in church today will be a distant memory. It's "pop" worship music for a reason. It's made for "now," not for generations.
And people may or may not be singing Handel in 272 more years, I don't know. But I do know this: should Christ tarry, the simple chorus of "hallelujah" will still be ringing out from God's people. Not necessarily "The Hallelujah Chorus," but the praise of the God of the universe will still ring out from the creation, just as we continue to read and pray and sing the psalms all these centuries later. It's a simple calling, this call to hallelujah, yet it's one we often forget.
As we venture closer to the manger, may you find your heart consumed with one simple cry: Hallelujah!
(I hope to post the video of last night's performance later today. I'll update this page when I do.)
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