Some words were coined for use only by the children of God, and such is the word, hallelujah! Actually the word is Hebrew, a compound of two words hallal and jah. The first word, hallal, means "to praise," and the word jah is the word for God, the same word which means Jehovah.

Hallelujah is a universal word known and understood by all who love God's Word everywhere. Simply put, the word means "praise be to God," or "praise the Lord." This word captured the attention of George Friderick Handel, who wrote the Messiah, one of the greatest of all masterpieces. "And He shall reign forever and ever" wrote Handel, with the words crescendoing "Hallelujah, hallelujah."

It is understandable that the world does not grasp the meaning nor significance of the word hallelujah, for only those who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ can praise the Lord for what He has done in saving their souls.

Hallelujah is not commonly used by writers of Scripture. In the Old Testament it is found only in the book of Psalms, and in the New Testament only in Revelation 19, where it is used four times referring to the great multitude of the redeemed of all ages who are in the presence of God and unite their voices with a loud peal of thunder saying, "Hallelujah!"

Will you be among that heavenly chorus, singing Hallelujahs? Have you been cleansed by the blood of Christ?

—Reprinted with permission from Guidelines International Ministries, Box G, Laguna Hills, CA 92654.