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“Hallelujah Psalms - II”
Imagine Jesus and His men celebrating Passover in the upper room the night He was to be betrayed. If they followed common practice, before they shared the meal, they sang psalms 113-114. If you look at these song lyrics, they are powerful words of praise to the powerful God who saves.
They begin of course with the “Hallelujah” that serves as the theme of this section of Psalms (113-118). “Who is like the Lord our God? He raises the poor from the dust. The Lord is high above all nations. Praise the Lord!” are some of the phrases of praises. In #114 the emphasis is God’s mighty power that was able to defeat the greatest nation of earth (Egypt), makes the sea flee, the river retreat, the mountains and hills trip over themselves. God’s presence causes the very earth to quake, and He can bring water from the rocks.
All this on the night before God in the flesh would be tortured and killed for all to see. Interesting, isn’t it, what Jesus sings of before that takes place? The unmatched power of God!
I wonder if we mess up when we only sing songs we are in the mood to sing at the moment? If in tough times we only sing the blues, how are we preparing ourselves for what is coming? Is there not great strength to be gained from singing of the power and salvation of God, at the very time that power seems distant, and salvation appears doubtful? Jesus did this.
“Mood-worship” might well rob us of the very blessing we need to endure the trial we face. Consider the example of our Lord.