Meyu Changkiri
(Adapted from a sermon delivered at Ao Baptist Arogo Shillong, November 2, 2025)
One Sunday morning, as the congregation echoed, “Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!” for the third time, a quiet question rose in my heart: Do we really mean what we say? Has this sacred word become so familiar that we sometimes speak it without thought or reverence?
In Revelation 19, heaven bursts into a majestic chorus: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” What a powerful and eternal word - Hallelujah! We sing it in worship, whisper it in prayer, and shout it in joy. Yet how often do we pause to consider its meaning?
A Word of Heavenly Weight
The word Hallelujah comes from two Hebrew roots: Hallelu, meaning “praise,” and Yah, meaning “the Lord.” Together they form a declaration that means “Praise the Lord.” Simple, yet profound, it is not merely an emotional expression or a sound of joy; it is a sacred proclamation of worship filled with awe, reverence, and divine power.
In Scripture, Hallelujah is heaven’s anthem (Revelation 19:1–6), echoing through eternity in the worship of angels and saints (Revelation 5:11–13; Isaiah 6:2–3; Luke 2:13–14). When we utter it here on earth, we join that same heavenly song - our voices blending with the worship of those before the throne (Hebrews 12:22–24). Every sincere Hallelujah becomes a bridge between earth and heaven, connecting our hearts with the heart of God (Revelation 8:3–4; Psalm 22:3; John 4:23–24).
The early Church inherited this word from Jewish worship, where Hallelujah was sung in the temple psalms. Over centuries and across cultures, it has remained unchanged in meaning and power - an eternal declaration: Praise the Lord, for He reigns forever.
Born from Faith, Not Comfort
The first appearance of Hallelujah in Scripture is found in Psalm 104:35, where the psalmist concludes, “Let sinners be consumed from the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Hallelujah - Praise the Lord.”
This is not a song that arises from comfort or ease, but from conviction. The psalmist faces the reality of sin and evil, yet his response is still to praise God. That teaches us something essential:
Hallelujah is not born from comfort but from faith. It is not the sound of an easy life, but the song of a trusting heart that clings to God even in the midst of uncertainty.
Real Hallelujah rises not from the mountaintop of success, but from the valley of surrender. It is the praise that declares, “Even here, even now, God is still worthy.”
When Words Lose Their Weight
In many worship gatherings, it has become common to hear preachers or worship leaders call out, “Hallelujah!” expecting the congregation to respond, “Praise the Lord!” But the question remains - do we mean it? Are these words spoken from conviction, or are they mere sounds of habit and routine?
Words that once carried power can lose their meaning when spoken without reflection. Hallelujah is not a filler phrase or a customary response - it carries the holiness of God’s name. To speak it lightly is to strip it of its sacred beauty. The third commandment warns us not to take the Lord’s name in vain; likewise, we must not let Hallelujah become hollow through careless repetition.
When spoken with sincerity, however, Hallelujah becomes a fragrant offering that delights the heart of God. It is not a performance but a prayer; not a ritual, but a response of the soul to the majesty of the Almighty. Every genuine Hallelujah is an act of worship that honors the One who reigns over all.
Hallelujah in Hard Times
It is easy to say Hallelujah when life feels good - when prayers are answered and blessings abound. But the true depth of this word is revealed when everything seems to fall apart. The psalmist’s cry in Psalm 42:5, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,” captures the heart of authentic praise. “I will yet praise Him” - that is the voice of faith that refuses to be silenced by despair.
Paul and Silas understood this truth. Beaten and imprisoned, they sang hymns to God at midnight (Acts 16:25). Their praise was not born from comfort but from courage. That is what Hallelujah looks like - it is praise that defies pain and chains alike.
I once visited a woman in the hospital who could barely speak. When we prayed together, she whispered, “Hallelujah.” It was faint, yet powerful, because it came from faith, not strength. Even a trembling Hallelujah from a weary heart moves heaven. True praise is not the absence of pain, but the presence of trust.
The Power of Praise in Presence
Life can become crowded with noise, pressure, and distraction. Responsibilities and worries fill our days until our hearts grow weary and God feels distant. Yet Hallelujah has the power to draw us back. It not only praises God - it re-centers our souls in His presence.
Psalm 140:13 says, “Surely the righteous will praise Your name, and the upright will live in Your presence.” When we whisper Hallelujah sincerely, our hearts realign with heaven. It is like opening a window in a dark room and letting in the light of God’s peace. In that moment, we remember that God is near, that He has not left us, and that His presence is our true refuge.
There have been times in my own ministry when prayer felt dry and worship mechanical. Yet each time I whispered Hallelujah, my spirit was renewed. It reminded me that worship is not driven by feeling but by faith. His presence remains even when our hearts are weary.
A Word of Nearness
C. Austin Miles beautifully captured this sense of divine nearness in his hymn “In the Garden.” Inspired by John 20, where Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ, the hymn declares: “And He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own.”
Saying Hallelujah carries a similar intimacy. It turns our attention to the living Christ who walks beside us still. Each time we say it, we acknowledge His nearness - “Jesus, You are here.” Even in confusion or loneliness, Hallelujah becomes a quiet act of recognition that our Lord has not abandoned us. It is the word of assurance that reminds us we are never alone.
Heaven’s Cry of Victory
The ultimate power of Hallelujah rests in the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is not empty emotion; it is the believer’s cry of victory. In Revelation 19, Hallelujah resounds four times as heaven rejoices: “The Lord reigns!”
Every Hallelujah declares that sin, fear, and death have been defeated. It proclaims that the battle has already been won through Christ. Because Jesus lives, we can say Hallelujah in laughter and in tears, in celebration and in sorrow. Even in loss, we know the story is not over.
Until that glorious day when every tear is wiped away and every wrong is made right, we continue to live and sing with Hallelujah in our hearts - not because everything is easy, but because Jesus is Lord. It is the song of hope that will never fade.
The Meaning of Hallelujah Today
To say Hallelujah today is to declare faith, presence, and victory all at once. It is to trust God when life is hard, to remember that He is near even when we feel alone, and to proclaim that Jesus reigns now and forever.
So, say it in the darkness - Hallelujah. Say it through the tears - Hallelujah. Say it when the mountain moves, and when it doesn’t - Hallelujah. This sacred word belongs not to defeat but to triumph, not to fear but to faith.
Even if your voice trembles, say it anyway. Say it with faith. Say it with hope. Say it with joy. When you say Hallelujah, you are not just speaking a word - you are joining the eternal song of heaven. Hallelujah! The Lord reigns forever. Amen.
