Hallelujah is Thanksgiving

All Praise belongs to God. “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord.”

God Our Father instituted it as the seat of His authority long before Jesus entered the Scriptures and long before Catholics, Protestants and Pentecostals branded it “Charismatic.”

Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!

– Psalm 113:2-3

PRAISE IS THE UNIVERSAL CALL OF ALL GOD’S HOLY CHURCH.

The Jewish word Hallel (Hebrew: הלל‎‎) is the root from which we get the word “Hallelujah” and it means to “Praise.” The Jews were commanded to “Hallel” consistently since the time of King David and dates back even further to the time of the Exodus when the Red Sea parted and the manna from Heaven, that holy bread of the angels, descended like the dew fall from Heaven down to earth and became known to the Jewish people as “the Bread of the Presence” that was later housed in the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple. Hallel is so engrained in the devotional practice of Judaism that it has become a Jewish prayer, a verbatim recitation from Psalms 113-118, which is recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays and the monthly festival of the New Moon Rosh Chodesh as an act of praise and thanksgiving.

Interestingly, the word “Eucharist” that Catholics use to call the New Bread of the Presence, which they believe was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper (Catechism of the Catholic Church), actually means “Thanksgiving” or “The Giving of Thanks.” Many other denominations also celebrate similar traditions of gathering around in communion with others to break bread and offer up prayers and praises of thanksgiving. Even outside traditional religious practices we see many cultural traditions of giving thanks appear throughout the world, such as the American and Canadian observance of Thanksgiving Day.

When we join together to offer up the bread of the Presence, whether, Jew or Gentile, we are answering a universal call within the heart of all men to offer praises of thanksgiving. We are all designed to Hallel!

So this Thanksgiving, as you gather around your table to break bread and share in the communion of love and fellowship with your family and friends, consider joining in this universal praise sung throughout all time and around the world, both in Heaven and on Earth, and ask everyone to join hands and voices and offer up a joyous shout “Hallelujah!” Maybe even take a minute to read directly from the Hallel Psalms 113-118 and remind each other of the great blessing we are given each day to have life in our bones and Hallel in our lungs.

If you’re interested in further study on the “Hallelujah” as the sound of Heaven touching Earth, I encourage you to check out my previous article on The Sound of Heaven: Lost in Translation, as well as meditate on the Scriptures referenced below.

Wherever you are and however you choose to celebrate this holiday season, I pray you come to know the beauty of God’s great love for you and remember it was God who instituted the first sounding Hallel from the Heavens when he created me and YOU!

Until the Day Dawns and the Shadows flee,

Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Kim

📚Points to Ponder: