When you mention the Hallelujah chorus, most people think of the song as the ending song of Handel’s Messiah. For the multitudes, they would say no. It is too hard or too “high church” for me. I have directed choirs for over 45 years, and the last four churches have been where I taught adult choirs to sing the Hallelujah chorus. These were volunteer choirs where only a few could read music. They love to sing, and it is always helpful if they can read music, but my approach to choir is that it is a ministry, not a performance. It must resonate from a heart desiring to touch other’s hearts. It must be viewed as a ministry singing for an audience of one. That one is God. If you desire to minister to draw Christians closer to God or the heart of one the Holy Spirit is drawing to salvation, I can place you and teach you where you can and will be used. I say that to say this. God has allowed me to teach the value and the singing of the Hallelujah chorus. In each church, people were elated that they could sing this song after they had learned it. I have listened as some have expressed, “This is what I am going to sing to God in Heaven.” To that, I say, “Hallelujah.” You may ask, what is the big deal with this song? To this, I reply, it is scripture, and yes, according to Revelations, all the redeemed will sing it!
The most familiar part of Handel’s Messiah is the chorus, so I’ll start with it. However, the entire piece is nothing but scripture. Hopefully, we can get to all of it in a couple of other devotions.
It starts with a series of Hallelujah’s, 10 to be exact. Different parts of the choir sing each one. This opening to the chorus is from the book of Revelations.
Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
In this verse, John hears a loud noise that seems like loud rushing water, such as we might hear at the bottom of Niagara Falls, or thunder that is loud and deep, like a massive thunderstorm. Finally, he recognizes it is the voices of those who have been redeemed. They are singing and praising God. They said, “Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.” They were celebrating the majesty of our God and our salvation through Jesus. In verse 6, they prepare for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. They are overwhelmed with joy because those who are redeemed are the Bride of Christ.
Revelation 19:1-6 “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Hallelujah; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God:For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Hallelujah. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah. And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering’s, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”
I can only imagine how Handle felt as he began to pen the words to this song. The chorus always comes after the verses, and it was so moving. He repeated his praise over and over. If you have heard or learned the song, you will remember a different voice does the repeats each time, and at the end, all join in on resounding Hallelujah! Every time I sing this song, I feel as if I’m standing for the honor of our Lord and singing to the top of my lungs. The music itself is designed to bring you emotionally into the presence of the Almighty. The feeling and thought of that happening after we enter Heaven is more than my imagination can hold. There is no end to the chorus if I can sing it before Jesus, the one who gave everything for me. The one who owes me nothing but gave me everything. Today, I challenge you to find a good choir on YouTube and listen to the chorus repeatedly. If it does not stir your soul, you have no idea what God has done for you and how unworthy you are to be able to sing: Hallelujah to the Lord God Almighty, who reigns forever and ever. He is omnipotent, and His reign will last forever.
