After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting:
“Hallelujah!
Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgements …”
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad
and give him glory!”
(verses 1-2, 6-7)
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Finally! After the plagues and judgements of the last several chapters, with the overthrow of Babylon, the great prostitute whose influence poisoned the whole earth – finally, after all that, there is a great roar of exultation that breaks forth in heaven.
Indeed, it breaks forth again and again. The word “Hallelujah”(literally “Praise the Lord” – an exultant cry of worship) rings out four times over in the first half of this chapter. It’s as if all heaven has been on the edge of its seat, watching and waiting, seeing the outpouring of God’s justice, affirming it as “true and just,” seeing it as necessary, yet waiting. There is more judgement still to come for the beast and the false prophet and their armies, and then for the final overthrow of Satan, but here in chapter 19 there is a collective outburst in heaven, rejoicing over the salvation and glory and power of the Lord God Almighty. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” The voices reverberate, like roaring waters, like rolling thunder.
What a challenging inspiration to us in our own worship. We all come from different cultural and church backgrounds and traditions, so this is less of a challenge to some than others, but can we pour forth praise to our great God full-throttle? Can we roar our praise? Can we embrace the judgements of God, strong and powerful, and turn them to worship? Can we pile up words, rich with meaning, one after another (like “salvation and glory and power”), and honour our God?
More challenging yet, can we join together in unity to do it? All heaven’s multitudes raise their voices as one, even though coming from every nation and tribe and language and people. Can we do it, coming from every ethnicity and culture and faith tradition and theological perspective and worship style and preference and ability? Can we honour the Lord across church communities and denominations? Can we do it now, not waiting till heaven? Can we find unity in Jesus, our Risen Exalted Lord?
Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God …
Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns …
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
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O Lord God Almighty – praise be to your name. Release me to worship you with all my heart and soul and mind and strength. To praise you in the midst of all your works, even your judgements. To do so, fully embracing brothers and sisters, so very different from me. To shout out your worth. Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. Hallelujah. Amen.
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Worship:
Find a place and time today to roar your praise to God. Shout out loud your Hallelujahs! Declare with passion “salvation and power and glory belong to our God!”
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Photo by Elizabeth Wales of Unsplash
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