Hallelujah!

Have you ever noticed that the grand biblical story is bracketed by two meals?

The first meal is the most tragic meal that has ever been eaten. High drama precedes this meal, as Satan tempts Eve and Adam to eat something God has forbidden. As you listen to the serpent’s seductive lies, you think, “Don’t listen!” And, as they take the forbidden fruit into their hands, you want to scream, “Don’t eat; don’t eat!”

But they do. This first recorded meal is an act of outrageous rebellion against God’s authority, warning, and loving provision. When the first bite is taken, the history of the world goes dark. Not only does sin enter the hearts of Adam and Eve, but it spreads its destructive power around the cosmos.

This meal is a tragedy, and humanity still suffers its effects today.

But, thankfully, the redemptive story marches toward another meal. This one is not a tragedy but a victory. It is a meal not of rebellion but of divine love. The beauty and glory of this meal is captured in Revelation 19.

I want to include a rather lengthy passage below, highlighting and emphasizing one word: Hallelujah!

“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.’

Once more they cried out,

‘Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.’

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’ And from the throne came a voice saying,

‘Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.’

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure’—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’”

(Revelation 19:1–9, ESV)

Open the eyes of your heart and expand your imagination to take in this scene. This is your guaranteed destiny as a child of God. It is a royal marriage processional. The reigning Lamb takes us as his bride, now pure before him and with him forever.

This is Scripture’s final meal. Sin has been defeated. There will be no more rebellious meals. The eternal celebration has begun. The children of God have been forever united to the Lamb. Redemption has been accomplished.

God has won! Hallelujah!

I am waiting
with hope
with joy
patiently
expectantly
eyes of my heart
always heavenward
mind fixed
faith focused.
I am waiting
for the eternal
unending
hallelujah.
The nations of
the redeemed
gathered round
the royal throne
of the risen
Savior King.
Their praise
no longer interrupted.
Their song
never silenced.
Throughout
the eternal throng
there is a sense
filling every heart
that there is no other
praise
there is no other
song.
In light of the final victory
of redemption,
the final defeat
of sin,
the final end
of suffering,
there is only one thing
to sing:
“Hallelujah!”
As the hallelujahs
swell,
the Lamb
arises from his
throne,
coursing through the
crowd,
drying tear after tear,
until
every tear has been
dried.
None of his children
will ever cry again.
Groans
will be replaced
with hallelujah.
Complaints
will be replaced
with hallelujah.
Fear
will be replaced
with hallelujah.
Doubt
will be replaced
with hallelujah.
The spiritual battle
now over.
With hearts free,
minds pure,
motives holy
forever,
the final song of our
liberation will be,
“Hallelujah!”

A Prayer for Today: Lord, I long to cry “Hallelujah!” in your presence forever. Until then, may my life be one long manifestation of “Hallelujah!” to you as I walk with you here before I go to my final home. God, you know I experience fear, groaning, doubts, and suffering in the here and now, and only you have the ability to wipe away and dry my tears forever and ever. Thank you for making me one of your children. I receive all the benefits of being united with you as my Creator, Father, Master, King, and Bridegroom, knowing that the full experience of those benefits will be in the age to come. Help me to walk faithfully with you until that day. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Paul Tripp

Discussion Prompt for Children

• Why do you think people say and shout the word “Hallelujah!” all the time in church? What do you think that word means?

• What do you think it will be like when you enter heaven? How does it make you feel knowing that it will be better than you could ever imagine?

• What does it mean to be redeemed? How have you experienced God redeeming you? How have you seen God work in my life to redeem me?

Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think it’s necessary for us to open the eyes of our hearts and expand our imaginations to take in the guaranteed destiny of heaven as God’s children? How have you typically thought about heaven? How does Scripture line up with your thoughts and assumptions about heaven? How does Scripture paint a different picture of heaven than your thoughts and assumptions?

2. Why is the word “Hallelujah” so important? What does it actually mean? Why do you think that word is repeated several times in the piece of Scripture we just read (Revelation 19:1-9)?

3. In what ways are you currently suffering that make you long for heaven? How has your suffering driven you to God? How has it pulled you away from him? What does your current suffering help you to see about your final home where suffering will be no more?

4. In what ways have you experienced the good gifts of God that have made you excited for your future final home? What are you most anxious to be liberated from when you see God face-to-face and shout, “Hallelujah!”?