Hallelujah

by Jarvis, A. G. | Category: General | Oct 1966

The word Hallelujah has come into the English language through its use in the Scriptures. It is an untranslated Hebrew word meaning "Praise ye Jah" or "Praise ye the Lord". It had an important place in the service of song used in the temple of old, in Jerusalem. It enshrines the ultimate divine purpose in God's dealing in grace with men, as it is written "that we should be unto the praise of His glory" or "to the praise of the glory of His grace" (Ephesians 1.12,6). The words of the heavenly host, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace" (Luke 2.14) set forth the same truth as they announced the coming of One whose name was called "Immanuel ... God with us". Note here that God's glory comes first, then man's blessing. With this agree the words of the Lord, "I glorified Thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given Me to do" (John 17.4).

The word Hallelujah occurs frequently in the later psalms, reaching a crescendo in the last five psalms, where all creation is called upon to "Praise the LORD". But it is not these great outbursts of praise that we have before us in this paper, but the glorious event recorded in Revelation 19. l~. where we find the only Hallelujahs mentioned in the New Testament. This at once impresses the mind with the transcendent importance of the occasion when they are uttered. A grand climax of heavenly joy is expressed when "the Lamb" who is seen in chapter 5 "in the midst of the throne", at last sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. The same blessed Person was seen on earth as "the Lamb of God" bearing away the sin of the world, "in the midst" crowned with thorns, between two robbers!

"But now He reigns with glory crowned, While angel hosts the throne surround, And still His lofty praises sound."

What a wonderful contrast between that scene at Golgotha and the scene depicted in Revelation 19.1-6!

"Oh! what a vast immeasurable span,

'Twixt glorious Godhead, and this death as Man

'Twixt throne of God, and this detested cross;

Mind is astounded, reason at a loss;

Nor can conceive how One so high as He,

For creature's sins, should suffer on the tree."

Immediately preceding the scene of majestic glory and praise ("I heard as it were a great multitude in heaven, saying Hallelujah", verse 1), we are directed to a scene on earth with a most sombre background-a great outpouring of divine judgements. The world's religion, commerce, science, and politics are all seen coming to their appointed end (Revelation 17,18,19,11-21). The finality of these things is stated in the words, "no more at all", repeated seven times. Unutterably sad is the cry, "Woe, woe" (18.10,16,19). Words wrung from the hearts of those whose all has been built upon the sand foundation of "Babylon the great" (18.2).

The dark climax of all this is seen in 18.23, which begins, "And the light of a lamp shall shine no more at all in thee." When war was declared in August 1914, Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, said, "The lights are going out all over Europe tonight." I still recall the feeling of dread that crept over me as I read those words. The lights were out for four years. But here, in Revelation 18, there is no recovery: it is the end. "The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee." The joys and pleasures of Babylon are finished!

Such is the background to the scene of rapturous joy and praise (19.1-6). "A great multitude" is seen, and a mighty outburst of praise is expressed in the word Hallelujah! The basis of this great outburst of praise is the "true and righteous" judgements of God. "And a second time they say, Hallelujah." And then those wonderful beings, nearest to the throne, "fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah". Can there be anything more rapturous, more glorious than this? Yes, a voice came forth from the throne, saying, Give praise to our God, all ye His servants, ye that fear Him, the small and the great". We reverently ask, Whose voice can this be? We suggest, none other than the voice of Him who, when He had purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. Notice the words, "Give praise to our God". Here, surely, is the great princely Leader of our praises, the One who said in the prophetic words of Psalm 22, "in the midst of the congregation will I praise Thee," and, "Of Thee cometh My praise in the great congregation" (22,25).

All, all are called upon to join in this final supreme anthem, "the small and the great", for THE MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB IS COME. Hallelujah!

Here we reach the pinnacle of heavenly praise. Rising from the depths of joyful hearts, "fulness of joy" finds rapturous expression. On earth we sing, joyfully,

"Sing the Son's unbounded love,

How He left the realms above

To rejoin the Father's side

With a blood-bought spotless Bride."

But earth never knew such a song as this. John, the Seer, tries to illustrate from the phenomena of nature something of that grand and glorious sound: "I heard as it were the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah." Why? "For the marriage of the Lamb is come." 0, glorious compensation for the lonely Man of Golgotha, when indeed in fullest measure "He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied"!

The psalm of the King (Psalm 45) points to that day: "All Thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia; out of the ivory palaces stringed instruments have made Thee glad... At Thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir" (verses 8,9). How sweetly are revealed the thoughts of His heart, reminding us of Paul's words, "Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for it... that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5.25.27)!

And when the last lights are going out on earth, and the last words of bride and bridegroom have been spoken here, then will begin the endless joy and song of heaven. True, "On earth the song begins", but we await the day when we shall join in the

"Blest anthem of eternal days,

The fulness of the rapt'rous song

To Christ the Saviour's endless praise."

Well, indeed, may Peter speak of "joy unspeakable and full of glory"!

"When the praise of heaven I hear,

Loud as thunders to the ear,

Loud as many waters noise,

Sweet as harp's melodious voice;

Then, Lord, shall I fully know,

Not till then how much I owe."

Jarvis, A. G. | Oct 1966
General