Praise the LORD.
Psalm 150:1
Hallelujah
“Hallelujah!” Church isn’t the only place you hear that word. A promotion at work, a win on the playing field, passing a test, or good news from the doctor may lead people to exclaim, “Hallelujah!”
But “Hallelujah” means so much more than “Hooray!” It means: “Praise the LORD.” It’s the first and last Hebrew words in Psalm 150.
It’s not just any god or lord this word praises, but the LORD. Notice how that name is written with four capital letters. This isn’t a translation of the regular Hebrew word for “lord.” Rather the original Hebrew text has the name that the one, true Savior-God chose when he revealed himself.
What’s in a name? When we understand why the true God chose this Hebrew word as his name, our hearts praise him. The entire book of Psalms is a commentary on this name. So the book closes, calling on us to praise the LORD.
The Hebrew behind the name, the LORD, reveals that he is entirely free and independent to act according to his grace, and that he is faithful and constant so that he always keeps his gracious promises. He is the unchanging I AM.
And what has his grace, his undeserved love, chosen to do? To save sinners, like you and me, through faith in Jesus. That’s why the Father, who is the LORD, sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to become one of us. That’s why Jesus Christ, who is the LORD, paid for all sins with his bloody death and rose from the dead for our forgiveness. That’s why through God’s Word the Holy Spirit, who is the LORD, calls us to believe in Jesus as our only Savior from sin. Praise be to the LORD–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – the one, true Savior-God!
In this world of change and decay, what Good News that our God, the LORD, does not change! He keeps his gracious promises. “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love … as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions [our sins] from us.” (Psalm 103:8,12)
Next time someone shouts “Hallelujah!” praise the LORD for his promises.
Prayer:
So great is your mercy, grace, and forgiveness, O LORD! Let me praise you now and for eternity. Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Devotions are brought to you by WELS and 
Print Friendly
No comments:
Post a Comment