Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Hallelujah

Hallelujah 
1. An exclamation of praise to God
2. An expression of relief or a similar emotion
3. A shout of joy, praise, or gratitude

I had to steal a song and post idea from my mom because after reading her post here, I have played the song over and over, and Cohen's voice still almost gives me chills during a few of his verses! Here is the song if you'd like to listen: Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

I love the image he brings up of King David in his first verse. He talks about a baffled king composing hallelujah. Can you see it!? King David was a man after God's own heart, but what a screw up he was time and time again! I can see him... blindly rushing into some sin, realizing he's done wrong, tearing his clothes in remorse and falling to the ground in a desperate attempt to reach God. He knows he can't go on without him. His cry for forgiveness becomes his hallelujah, and he is baffled by how he got in this state again. How could he have let God down? Again.

Have you ever felt like King David? Have you ever felt like Paul when he said that he didn't really understand himself because he wants to do right but doesn't... can't. He wants to do what is good, but doesn't. He doesn't want to do what is wrong but he does it anyway... on and on he goes in a similar manner until verse 25 (see Romans 7: 15-25).

Leonard sings about cold and lonely hallelujahs. He sings of broken ones. He also sings about how God used to speak to him and how every single breath he and the Holy Spirit drew was hallelujah.

We've all experienced those times haven't we? Times of an intense closeness and awareness of God in our lives. We can't wake up in the morning without wanting to sing our praises in the form of hallelujah. We can't get close enough to God and our joy abounds.

We've also all had those times when God has been quite. He hasn't spoken to us in months, maybe years. We feel like we're falling apart inside when we desperately cry out to God with our very broken hallelujahs. Maybe he answers. Maybe he remains silent.

My encouragement to you is to continue singing your hallelujahs to God. No matter what form they escape your mouth in.

I've done my best, I know it wasn't much.... and even though it all went wrong I'll stand right here before the Lord of song with nothing... nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah!

Leonard has the right idea. Let's continue to praise God in the good times and the bad- when we screw up and when life is going good. Why? Romans 7:24-25a. "Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!"

HALLELUJAH!