Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. Part of the reason I like this holiday so much is the emphasis that is placed on family during this season. We look forward to the food and the sharing of gifts. In some respects, the holiday is for the kids, but we enjoy it as well.
There are many traditions associated with this holiday, such as caroling, decorations, Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, and so many more. It is an interesting study to research the origins of these traditions. Even the December date of the holiday has an interesting history.
One of the songs associated with Christmas is the Hallelujah Chorus. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir of 360 members can often be heard performing this around the holiday.
The song was composed by George Frideric Handel as part of the production of the musical, The Messiah. Permit me to give a little history of the song by first looking at the life of its composer.
George Frideric Handel was a child prodigy with a keen interest in the organ, harpsichord, and violin. He achieved great notoriety early in life. Later in life as newer and younger artists began to eclipse his fame, he fell into a deep depression. He was bankrupt and had crippling palsy in his fingers. It was at this time he said, “Handel’s great days are over.”
As is often the case, what we deem to be valleys in life are sometimes blessings in disguise. It seems his troubles and trials matured him and softened him. A friend sent him a collection of Bible verses about the Christ.
Shortly thereafter on August 22, 1741, he shut himself up in his London home and 23 days later emerged with the musical “The Messiah.” The Hallelujah Chorus is a part of the production. It is customary for the audience to stand during the song.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
For He shall reign forever and ever…
The word Hallelujah comes from the Hebrew word, Hallel meaning to praise and the word Jah, is a shortened form of Jehovah or the Tetragrammaton, YHWH. The meaning of the word is thus, Praise the LORD.
This also brings to mind many of the Psalms. Psalms 146 through 150 are sometimes called “the Hallelujah Psalms.” This is in part because they all begin and end with the phrase “Praise the LORD.”
Psalm 148 is one of my favorite Psalms. It was set to modern music over 100 years ago by William J. Kirkpatrick. This rendering is called “Hallelujah Praise Jehovah.” The lyrics are below and I urge the reader to open the Bible to Psalm 148 and compare. You will agree that it is a beautiful composition.
Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
From the heavens praise His name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest,
All His angels praise proclaim.
All His hosts together praise Him,
Sun, and moon, and stars on high;
Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens,
And ye floods above the sky.
Refrain:
Let them praises give Jehovah,
For His name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
Far above the earth and sky.
Let them praises give Jehovah,
They were made at His command,
Them forever He established;
His decree shall ever stand.
From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,
All ye floods, ye dragons all;
Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,
Stormy winds that hear His call.
All ye fruitful trees and cedars,
All ye hills and mountains high,
Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,
Birds that in the heavens fly.
Kings of earth, and all ye people,
Princes great, earth’s judges all,
Praise His name, young men and maidens,
Aged men and children small.
Hallelujah Praise Jehovah! Indeed.