This word in our text is spelled Alleluia. Regardless of which spelling is used, the meaning is the same. We can say it, shout it, pray it, or sing it. The translation is, “ praise the Lord.” This is not a unique insertion into Scripture. The idea of praising the Lord permeates both Old and New Testament. The faithful are the people most likely to reflect praise back to the Lord. This is the type of thought that is inspiring while at the same time grounding an individual in his faith. The significance of including praise to the Lord makes it a testimony to how we appreciate the Almighty. Some might say that they can join in praising the Lord, but not at all times under all circumstances. Let us examine how we may declare to our own hearing praise and, therefore, declare about God himself.
Naturally, our first observation for praising the Lord is when all things are going well. There is smooth sailing financially, in relationships, and spirit so that there seems to be a condition of peace. Should anyone ever reach that state, it is enviable.
Consider the opposite circumstance. What if nothing is going right. Life is a burden. It seems debatable if things will ever change for the better. It almost seems like disrespect to the person who was lying in the gutter. Take the man who wrote the song, It is well with my soul. It seems quite remarkable that he would pen those words when he lost several of his daughters to drowning in the Atlantic Ocean. These words look ahead to the time when grief is brought under control. This is a song that also reflects the miseries of Job who still trusted the Lord.
As part of our service to the Lord, our spiritual life must include obedience to pray without ceasing.(Thessalonians 5:17) Glorifying God with hallelujah is spiritually and emotionally uplifting. When he answers our prayers, when we see the marvels of nature, when our life is becoming rich because a certain prayer has been answered, or when we’re just driving down the street and we see a butterfly land on our windshield while waiting for the traffic light to change, and all in all during all times for all reasons let us praise the Lord.
When we are attacked by Satan, the wise believer will use scripture to resist our opponent just like Jesus did. While fighting against the temptation, we can praise the Lord away from the temptation. We can delight in the Lord instead of delighting in sin. We have every good reason to praise the Lord as he helps us defeat the devil in our lives.
This one word is a form of prayer in itself. To earnestly say it, it is like whispering in the ear of God. No special thought is needed as to how to phrase your sentences. This word is a summary and at the same time a challenge about what is happening in our lives. You can voice it or you can think about it. Whatever the circumstances interjected in our lives, whatever we are doing, look up and praise the Lord.
Christian Writer 