The Final Hallelujah
Open Your Bible
Psalm 145:1-21, Psalm 146:1-10, Psalm 147:1-20, Psalm 148:1-14, Psalm 149:1-9, Psalm 150:1-6
BY Kara Gause
Book V
Book V is an invitation to exuberant praise; it is worship in light of God’s covenant love, His Word, and the reminder that His promise of David’s neverending throne would be fulfilled in the Messiah.
I attended a funeral yesterday, one that left me slack-jawed with wonder. It was a beautiful celebration of a man, to be sure, by his family, friends, and a community who will feel the loss of him deeply. Yet, I’ve never been so struck by the idea that life can be understood as a song, and humans as instruments of praise.
What struck me so much about the service is how a life will continue to sing days, weeks, and years after the man, a vessel of praise, breathed his last breath. The lyric and music ring out and thrum, echoing and joining with a chorus of saints for all time and eternity, singing, “Hallelujah! My soul, praise the LORD. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 146:1–2).
The Hebrew word hallelujah is an exhortation to “praise Him,” Him being Yahweh, “Maker of heaven and earth” (v.6). We are to acknowledge Him in our actions, give thanks to Him in our hearts, proclaim His goodness and faithfulness in our testimony, uttering praise to Him even with our breath (Psalm 145:7). In today’s reading, the writer of Psalm 150 invites and implores us to actively do just that: “Let everything that breathes praise the LORD. Hallelujah!” (Psalm 150:6).
This is an act of vulnerability, requiring us to lay down our will to seek His, and so who we believe God to truly be matters. Each psalmist from today’s reading sets out to remind us, and likely themselves, of who God is, what He has done, and why He alone is worthy of our praise. He exhorts all creation—from angel armies in the highest heavens to creatures that crawl in the earth’s temporal dust—to praise Him (Psalm 148:1–6). We’re reminded that the Lord is just and holy, His acts mighty and awe-inspiring, yet He’s also “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and great in faithful love” to everyone and everything He’s made (Psalm 145:8–9). His greatness and power are unsearchable, completely unfathomable to our minds (v.3).
Take this in: “the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4). In a world that shifts its attention and devotion on a whim, the Lord is constant and does not swerve from His purposes. His is a love worthy of our loud, joyful, and unabashed praise, with all the instruments available to us but none more vital than our quiet, awe-filled devotion. As long as we have breath, may our days whisper His song. May the testimony of our lives never cease to sing about His wonder. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
56 thoughts on "The Final Hallelujah"
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I’m always sad when we reach the end of a study. This one was soooo good. But a new one begins Monday and it will be good as well. As they say on the podcast, “Keep opening your Bibles!” Have a great weekend ladies. ❤️
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Heidi, it is not irresponsible to trust God to provide for you in what He has called you to do.He is able to meet your needs. I want to encourage you He has everything in His hands, trust Him and in faith let others know your need, ask Him who to share with. Reach out to your church in faith, ask friends and family for support, ask the program if there is a way to lower the cost. He has all the resources, all the blessings, Lord pour out Your blessings on Heidi, increase her husband’s business, we know you have an amazing plan for her, Lord I love the beautiful ways you meet our needs, and I am so thankful. I ask You to show us Your provision of finances to cover the bills, the seminary, You are so faithful Lord, I see You moving mountains all around me, I pray this for Heidi in Jesus name Amen. Hugs dear Heidi, He’s got you.
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Happy Saturday She’s!
Boy, is my back screaming at me this morning and yesterday! Chronic back issues and sleeping in an rv for almost 2 weeks now is making it apparent I need my bed! We are here (IL.) visiting for 2 more nights, then will drive down to Kentucky to see my daddio for a night, then the 14 hours to home in Fort Myers! My back is going to be a tied-up, miserable ball of pain. Prayers please. But my son is here with us now visiting for our final couple of days, so I am a happy mom. (although most of the day he is abandoning me for friends!) Tomorrow we shall go to our old church together so I will love that, such a blessing.
Sorry you are in such a tough spot @Heidi. Prayers for you to have some clarity on the situation.
I am excited to start Hebrews!
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Y’all idk what to do- many of you know my journey somewhat and that I’ve followed a call to go to seminary. I’ve started and I’m loving it. It’s hard and incredibly time consuming (about to head out to another full class day today…) but enlightening and refreshing.
But… (isn’t it always something…??)
Money. Idk what God is doing. My man and I went through our finances last night and this makes no logical sense to be doing this. Some may even see it as irresponsible on our part. And at the same time we both have felt- separately even- God “speak to us” (please know my context) that this is where He wants me right now. I sincerely don’t know the right thing to do anymore and I know the enemy is trying to bring as much confusion and discouragement as he possibly can.
Please please pray…
-wisdom
-eyes and ears to see/hear His direction AND the enemy’s tactics
-peace within His plan
-knowledge and understanding of the concrete things that have to be addressed (bills/tuition/income…)
God could easily drop $10k from the sky if He wanted to, I know that. But He’s not doing that so how am I/are we supposed to meet the financial commitments that we have? For so long He blessed my husband’s company (of which he’s the owner) with financial blessing. And He has clearly chosen to close that window of income. So now what? I really really don’t know. I don’t want to give up on something that’s turned into a met desire I never even knew I had. But if I need to return to full time work to support my family, then I see no other option. So incredibly torn… -
So true, TRICIA C!
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TINA – morning! Still no weekly truth, on website or app. I’ll read some or all of yesterday’s Scriptures instead.
I have enjoyed the Psalms study and have learned a lot but it did feel somewhat rushed to me. I may look for another Psalms study or go through the whole book of Psalms on my own later this year, or even use this study as a guide … and read through any skipped Psalms as I come to them.
Looking forward to the next study!
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Good Saturday morning Sisters! No weekly truth yet, but we know our Truth is Jesus. He is the Anchor for our soul. Have a blessed day!
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Beautiful song…”My Soul Sings” by Jonathan David Helser and Melissa Helser
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