One last thought in this series is to understand the significance of praise. As the pinnacle of God’s creation, the greatest thing we can do on earth is to praise God perpetually and continually.
From an ancient Hebrew perspective, praise is far more than mouthing our appreciation of God’s greatness and worth. Praise is the compass by which we set the direction of our lives. Let me explain.
The Hebrew word “halal”, from which we get the word “hallelujah”, has an interesting meaning.
“In Hebrew, halal (הָלַל) means to praise, boast, or shine brightly. It conveys a sense of exuberant or even “foolish” celebration and is a root word for “Hallelujah”. The meaning can also extend to shining or flashing forth light, which is seen in its use for heavenly bodies.” (Source – Google, article “meaning of halal in Hebrew”)
According to Jeff Benner, expert on paleo Hebrew…(source Google),
“The verb הלל (halal) means to “shine”as seen in Isaiah 13:10 – “and the moon shall not cause its light to shine”.
In ancient times, before the invention of navigation instruments, sailors would navigate by the light of the stars. They would follow the light which guided them to their destination.
So, “halal” often refers to the “shining of a star”.
How did this come to be translated as “praise”? By association… Just as starlight guided the sailors, so the light of God’s glory which we contemplate and verbalise in our praise, guides His people towards their destiny.
What is our destiny?
Our destiny, according to Paul, is to be transformed into the image of Jesus so that He and all who follow Him are alike in nature and character, and are members of His family.
“For those God foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”
Romans 8:29 NIV
How does this happen? Again, according to Scripture, we become like what we love. Israel loved idols. As early in their history as their journey to the Promised Land, they were already in love with the idols of the nations they were to exterminate.
“When I found Israel, it was like finding grapes in the desert; when I saw your ancestors, it was like seeing the early fruit on the fig tree. But when they came to Baal Peor, they consecrated themselves to that shameful idol and became as vile as the thing they loved.”
Hosea 9:10 NIV
(Baal Peor was the place where the Israelites worshiped the Midianite god, influenced by the prophet Balaam, in defiance of God’s commandment to have no other gods before Him).
We become like whatever we give our attention to, be it good or bad. So, Paul shows us how we can become “like Him”.
“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV
How do we contemplate His glory? By gazing at the “Morning Star”, the last bright star to be seen in the east before dawn.
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
Revelation 22:16 NIV
“Jesus is called the “bright morning star” in Revelation 22:16 to signify his role as the light that ushers in a new day of salvation and eternal life.” (Source: Google).
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Hebrews 1:3 NIV
So, to praise, “halal”, Yah, as in “hallelujah”, is a call to focus our attention, to gaze on or contemplate His glory, (everything that constitutes Jesus’ shining), through our contemplation and our words of adoration and worship. In this way, we set the course of our lives towards our destiny of becoming like Him.
…and John assures us…
“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
1 John 3:2 NIV