All About the Hallel!

 Happy Son-Day!

All About Hallel



All About Hallel

Last Spring, I attended my first Timberwolves playoff game. The Wolves were the second lowest seeded team in the tourney, which meant that they were playing the second highest seeded time in the tourney, the Memphis Grizzlies. The atmosphere in the building was charged with anticipation and excitement.  This is only the second time in the last twenty years they’ve been in the playoffs.

The game was closely contested for its entirety.  The largest by any team was not more than 6 points.  For the majority of the two and half game people were on their feet yelling, screaming, and cheering.  No one complained.  For their support and allegiance to the local squad, the fans were rewarded with a rare playoff victory.

I did take in of all the exuberance on display for 24 men on a gym flooring wearing a tee shirt and extended shorts throwing a leather ball into metal hoop. Then I compared this to what I have seen in worship services all my life either as a praise leader or a worshipper.  Many times, there is a struggle to get the congregation to lift a finger or whisper a word of gratitude to the creator of all we know and then some.

There may be a thought that being demonstrative is undignified.  Too uncivilized.  Too much work. Yet, these thoughts are not considered in other forums where we are fans of an event.  In Exodus 20:5, God declares to all, “I the LORD, am your GOD, I am a jealous God.  No one and nothing come before HIM.  He is not second fiddle.  He not one you come to on the rebound.  He does not settle.

About a year ago, Jo and I watched one of those two stage semi-religious plays.  One of the actors was Thomas Mikal Ford.  He also played “Tommy” in the TV comedy, “Martin”.  In the play, he was the sensible, but stoic elder.  His signature line when any  church member showed any kind emotional or demonstrative praise was, “It don’t take all that!”. 

Sorry, Thomas, you are wrong.  Praise demands a sacrifice (Hebrews 13:15).  This means real praise comes despite what we think or feel.  Think about sacrifices in Old Testament times.  God would not accept second rate.  He wanted the fatted calf or lamb, the very best.  He wants you vested emotionally and physically in the praise.

In 2 Samuel 6:13:When the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem, King David praised and danced before his “congress” and citizens.  If TV existed at that time, David would have praised and danced before the LORD on national TV.  He did not care about what others thought his praise; he only cared about how his praise would be received by the LORD.

Here is the famous passage, always a joy to read:

2 Samuel 6:13-23

13 When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

14 Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might,

15 while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

16 As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart.

17 They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD.

18 After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty.

19 Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes.

20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”

21 David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD.

22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.”

23 And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Basics of praise. 

You can start with one word, Hallel.  It is a Hebrew word that means “I come to you showing my great praise and thanksgiving”.  As one would guess, the word Hallelujah is derived from Hallel.  Tip, either one works.


Song of the week

“Make Room”, 2018, Jonathan McReynolds, piercing lyrics, worship tempo.  Won a Stellar Award. 

Make Room Lyrics

I find space for what I treasure

I make time for what I want

I choose my priorities and

Jesus you're my number one

So, I will make room for you

I will prepare for two

So, you don't feel that you

Can't live here, please live in me

I find space for what I treasure

I make time for what I want

I choose my priorities and

Jesus you're my number one

Yes, Jesus you're my number

So, I will make room for you

I will prepare for two

So, you don't feel that you

Can't live here, please live in me

I will make room for you

I will prepare for two

So, you don't feel that you

Can't live here, please live in me

Live in me yeah

Please live in me God

I will make room for you

My will (You can move that over)

My way (You can move that over)

My ego (You can move that over)

My plans (You can move that over)

My schedule (You can move that over)

My itinerary (You can move that over)

See I, I will make room for you

My habits (You can move that over)

My attitude (You can move that over)

Whatever it is (You can move that over)

That's not like you (You can move that over)

Whatever it is (You can move that over)

You can move it over (You can move that over)

Oh, see I will make room, yeah

Whatever it is (You can move that over)

That's in your way (You can move that over)

Whatever it is (You can move that over)

If it takes your space (You can move that over)

See whatever it is (You can move that over)

Oh, I don't want it there (You can move that over)

Oh, see I will make room

I wanna seek you first (You can move that over)

Get the odd things out the way (You can move that over)

I wanna seek you first (You can move that over)

Move it all out the way (You can move that over)

See whatever it is (You can move that over)

Lord, I just want you (You can move that over)

Oh, so I will make room, yeah

See whatever it is (You can move that over)

You can move it all (You can move that over)

Please just move it all (You can move that over)

Help me move it all (You can move that over)

Jesus I (You can move that over)

I just want you know (You can move that over)

That I will make room

I find space for what I treasure

I make time for what I want

I choose my priorities and

Jesus you're my number one


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