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." Rev 19:6
Five years ago, the Hallelujah! Chorus, presented by 300 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir combined with over 2,000 voices worldwide brought Charles Wesley's opening sentence 'O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing' into sharp focus.
The resounding sound of many voices singing 'Hallelujah' in Hebrew or 'Alleluia' in Greek which is 'Praise The Lord' is just wonderful to the ears!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord
And of His Christ, and of His Christ
And He shall reign for ever and ever
And He shall reign for ever and ever
And He shall reign for ever and ever
For ever and ever, forever and ever
King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
And Lord of lords (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
King of kings (Forever and ever Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
And Lord of lords (King of kings and Lord of lords)
And He shall reign
And He shall reign
And He shall reign forever and ever
King of kings (Forever and ever)
And He shall reign (Hallelujah! Hallelujah!)
And He shall reign forever and ever
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever
Forever and ever
Forever and ever
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
Handel was probably thinking of the heavenly chorus of praise mentioned in Revelations. And yes! Let the praises and lyrics be repetitive, overflowing, loud and joyful. The same litany of praises can be found in the Book of Psalms. There are 150 Psalms of which 14 or nearly 10% has Praise the Lord as the first sentence; many more are found in the verses.
'Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.' Psalm 103:1
'Praise the Lord, my soul. Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendour and majesty.' Psalm 104:1
'Praise the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever.' Psalm 106:1
'Praise the Lord. I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.' Psalm 111:1
'Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in His commands.' Psalm 112:1
'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you His servants; praise the name of the Lord' Psalm 113:1
'Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples.' Psalm 117:1
'Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who ministers by night in the house of the Lord.' Psalm 134:1
'Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise Him, you servants of the Lord.' Psalm 135:1
'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul.' Psalm 146:1
'Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!' Psalm 147:1
'Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.' Psalm 148:1
'Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His praise in the assembly of His people.' Psalm 149:1
'Praise the Lord. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens.' Psalm 150:1
The psalms instruct us on the how, who, why and where for praising God. We should praise God from the depths of our souls with the voices of praise that are exuberant and refreshing.
Yet in these days of texting on mobile phones we have reduced this exuberance to a trite PTL. Using just the acronym PTL texted in a perfunctory manner is insincere and may even be disrespectful. In the light of the energy of the Hallelujah Chorus one should take umbrage at reducing this praise to three letters - PTL. Let us not allow it to enter the Christian vocabulary.
By contrast the same means of modern virtual communications can afford us a different outcome. Not to be cowed by the Covid restrictions to public singing many have circumvented these restrictions by doing virtual choir presentations. Many choirs have now taken to singing praises in the virtual space with voices being recorded individually then stitched together digitally.
Unable to sing and play together physically and in public, hundreds and thousands of singers and musicians found alternative solutions to harmonise their praises. Here is a rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus now completely in the digital space.
These productions will enable us to shout out the words Hallelujah! and Praise The Lord! joyfully at bleak and oppressive times. The greatness of God, the sacrifice of Christ and the ministry of the Holy Spirit should leave us not only astounded but with such sincere gratitude that we will let out a spontaneous, Alleluia!
Digital communications have allowed us to demonstrate Charles Wesley's intentions and inspiration when he wrote a thousand tongues will sing.
Like the psalmists, Charles had much to praise God. On the 21 May 1738, Charles was taken ill with pneumonia. On that day a group of friends took turns taking care of him. He was deeply affected by the love and care shown him by these Christians. After recovery, he wrote in his journal counting this experience as a renewal of his faith, Charles' heartwarming experience.
His brother John Wesley had the same experience on 24 May 1738. John went on to found the Methodist movement. Charles went on to write a 14 stanza hymn expressing his great joy O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing and he became famous as a great hymn writer.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great redeemer's praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace
Jesus! the name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
'Tis music in the sinner's ears,
'Tis life and health and peace
He breaks the power of cancelled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me
He speaks and listening to His voice
New life the dead receive
The mournful broken hearts rejoice
The humble poor believe
Hear him ye deaf; His praise ye dumb
Your loosened tongues employ
Ye blind behold your saviour comes
And leap ye lame for joy!
My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
And spread through all the earth abroad
The honours of Thy name
Truly, when we praise God, our spirits are renewed and our lives revived! Praise the Lord!
Lionel
