Have you ever wondered where this expression of deepest joy in our amazing God has come from? One of my favorite traditions of Easter Sunday is the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. The choir is singing, shouting and praising. It’s as if they can find no words except this Hebrew transliteration fromthe book of Psalms—Hallelujah—to express the awe they feel in themighty work of God.

Revelation 19 is the only place in the New Testament where you find this word that appears frequently in the Psalms. It is a Hebrew word meaning Praise the Lord! In Revelation the multitudes are shouting it, the twenty-four elders and four living creatures are falling down and worshipping and saying it. I imagine the Hallelujah Chorus on earth is a small taste of what we will feel in heaven when we join with the heavenly hosts to proclaim the glory of our God!

Read this scene in heaven from Revelation 19:1-6.

1 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,

2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

3 And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

4 The twentyfour elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: “Amen, Hallelujah!”

5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!”

6 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.

Hallelujah, I'm so thankful for this word that expresses to God more than I can understand about the wonder of His character, His works, His justice, His sovereignty, and His communion with His people. When was the last time your soul shouted Hallelujah to your God? Maybe it has been too long since your last catharsis of praise. When we sing Hallelujah from the deepest parts of our souls, we are energized with a spiritual strength that permeates our lives. Oh that we would be drawn to worship and praise God like the multitudes in heaven. Could we ever come to honor Him and adore Him as fully as the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures of Revelation? Why not practice singing Hallelujah throughout your week—see what it does to your soul.