The book of Psalms ends with a crescendo of five psalms, often called the five hallelujahs. Why are they called the five hallelujahs? Because each of the five songs begins and ends with the word “hallelujah”. The word hallelujah is a Hebrew word made up of the words halal which means “to praise, shine or boast”, and Yah which is a shortened form of Yahweh. So, hallelujah means “Praise God” or “Praise the Lord”.
With each of the five psalms beginning and ending with hallelujah we have a total of 10 hallelujahs. As if that was not enough, the final psalm of the five, Psalm 150, includes 10 more hallelujahs!
The first psalm in the collection, Psalm 146, begins with a personal declaration of praise, “Praise the Lord, O my soul”, and the final psalm ends with a universal declaration, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
So, have you praised God today? Don’t let another moment of the day go by without joining in with the psalmist and declaring, “Hallelujah!”
by Jerry Wyrick, President of Worship Arts Conservatory
Worship Director at Crosspointe Church