hallelujah (noun) - a shout or song of praise or thanksgiving
Hallelujah as an interjection is something people shout the world over, whether they're believers or not. Have you ever cried it out after completing a difficult task, or in celebration of overcoming a trying obstacle, or in triumph when you see a victory no matter how trivial? Yeah, we all have, it's pretty normal. However, we tend to take for granted the spirituality of hallelujah, and that it's really meant to praise our God and give sincere thanks to Him for more than just a fleeting moment in time. It's something I know I'm trying to be better at in my own life, and I encourage you to do the same.
This week's post includes seven songs that feature a form of hallelujah along with Scripture references that inspired them and that I was led to with each entry. All Scripture passages are from the New Living Translation of the Holy Bible.
Raise a Hallelujah by Bethel Music, Jonathan David & Melissa Helser (written by J. Helser, J. Stevens, M. Skaggs, M. Helser)
Featured on Bethel's 2019 live album Victory and featuring vocals from worship leaders The Helsers, this hallelujah is a song of triumph and victory even in the midst of a difficult battle. In the darkest moments of our lives, we can know God is fighting our most difficult enemies for us, the ones that we can't even see. He is the One who defeated death itself - there's nothing He can't do.
I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies/I raise a hallelujah louder than the unbelief/I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody/I raise a hallelujah, Heaven comes to fight for me/I’m gonna sing in the middle of the storm/Louder and louder, you're gonna hear my praises roar/Up from the ashes, hope will arise/Death is defeated, the King is alive
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Son of Suffering by Bethel Music ft. Matt Redman (written by A. Moses, D. Funk, M. Redman, N. Moore)
Featured on Bethel's 2021 live album Homecoming and featuring vocals from worship leaders David Funk and Matt Redman, this particular hallelujah is a song of praise for everything Jesus went through to ensure our salvation. He suffered unimaginable pain because He loved us so much and wanted to give us the gift of eternal life with Him in Heaven. He gave up His place of honor to come be with here on earth that we could know Him personally.
Oh, the perfect Son of God in all His innocence/Here walking in the dirt with you and me/He knows what living is, He's acquainted with our grief/Man of sorrows, Son of suffering/The blood and tears, how can it be/There's a God who weeps, there's a God who bleeds/Oh, praise the One who would reach for me/Hallelujah to the Son of suffering
Hebrews 9:14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.
Reign Above It All by Bethel Music & Paul McClure (written by P. McClure, J. Cates, E. Hulse, H. McClure)
Featured on Bethel's 2020 live album Revival's In the Air and featuring vocals from worship leader Paul McClure, this hallelujah is a song of reverence and respect to the Creator and Ruler of the universe. Our God created the heavens and the earth and rules over our lives when we dedicate them to Him. He will never lead us astray and He will never leave us alone.
The reign of darkness now has ended/In the kingdom of light, in the kingdom of light/Forever under Your dominion/You're the King of my life, You're the King of my life/You reign above it all, You reign above it all/Over the universe and over every heart/There is no higher name/Jesus, You reign above it all
Matthew 6:33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
A Thousand Hallelujahs by Brooke Ligertwood (written by B. Ligertwood, P. Wickham, S. Ligertwood)
Featured on Ligertwood's 2022 live album SEVEN, this hallelujah is a song of celebration for the power of the Lord. Of all the things God created at the beginning of time, we are the ones gifted with the ability to glorify Him with shouts and songs of praise. A thousand hallelujahs could never be enough to fully convey His glory.
Who else would rocks cry out to worship/Whose glory taught the stars to shine/Perhaps creation longs to have the words to sing/But this joy is mine/With a thousand hallelujahs, we magnify Your name/You alone deserve the glory, the honor, and the praise/Lord Jesus, this song is forever Yours/A thousand hallelujahs and a thousand more
Daniel 4:37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.
Springtime by Chris Renzema (written by C. Renzema, H. Bentley)
Featured on Renzema's 2020 album Let the Ground Rest, this hallelujah is a song of wonder at the power of resurrection and life that God gives. Jesus defeated death and came back from the grave, and that resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith. We experience our own form of resurrection when we accept His gift of salvation and are born again into our new lives as children of God.
You're the resurrection that we've waited for/You buried the night and came with the morning/You're the king of heaven, the praise is yours/The longer the quiet, the louder the chorus/Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh/Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh/We will sing a new song 'cause death is dead and gone with the winter/We will sing a new song, let hallelujahs flow like a river/We're coming back to life, reaching towards the light/Your love is like springtime
I Chronicles 29:11-13 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things. Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!
Testify by Maverick City Music ft. Dante Bowe & Naomi Raine (written by J. Jay, D. Bowe, S. Gretzinger, N. Moore)
Featured on Maverick City's 2021 album Jubilee and featuring vocals from worship leaders Dante Bowe and Naomi Raine, this hallelujah is a song of thankfulness at the mercy of our Lord. The lyrics loudly declare a testimony of God's grace and mercy and the healing He provides. It is both our duty and our pleasure as followers of Christ to proclaim all that He has done for us.
I've been marked by Your presence, and this one thing I won't forget/Oh, how mercy met dirty the day my life was spared/And I've been healed by those nailed hands through the lowest of nights/And I'm no longer a dead man, now I walk in the light/So testify if God still provides/Tell the truth if He's been good to you/Raise a shout if He brought you out/Everything with breath, sing praises
Psalm 16:5-11 Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.
So I Sing by Mosaic MSC (written by M. McManus, A. Figueroa)
Featured on Mosaic's 2017 album Unknown and featuring vocals from worship leader Mariah Goss, this hallelujah is a song of praise for God's wonderful and unfailing love for His children. He gives us the very breath in our lungs that we turn back into worship for His majesty. He is so powerful and glorious, and He loves us more than we can comprehend.
All You dream has come to be/The beauty in everything set free/You put a song inside of me/Your love’s too wonderful to speak/So I sing hallelujah/So I sing hallelujah
Psalm 135:3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; celebrate his lovely name with music.
I hope these hallelujahs spoke to your heart the way the spoke to mine this week. Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!
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