A Broken Hallelujah! Revelation 19

I’m not exactly sure what part of the sermon, triggered the question; but it came out, right out loud, right during the Sunday sermon.

“What about when, sometimes, it just slips, you know, something happens and BAM, a bad word pops out?”

We talked a little bit about how, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45).

Then came the question, “What do you do?”

Perhaps it was the question, or maybe, my deer-in-the-headlights look, but the whole Church broke into laughter. I laughed too, on the outside, but inside, I was thanking God, for an honest answer, without being ashamed or embarrassed.

If something happens, you know, like the hammer hits the thumbnail, instead of the real nail, what pops out is… “Hallelujah!” and then, usually, a quick prayer for whatever just got smashed. Like, “Hallelujah! Thank You Jesus, for healing my thumb…or toe…or head…” or whatever.

Hallelujah, became the word of the day. “Okay, we can do that. We’ll say, hallelujah! Instead of, sh-- or, da-- or…”

So, if you’re walking through our neighborhood, you may hear an extra, “hallelujah!” or two. It might not be perfect; it might not come out quite right. It certainly won’t be prim, proper and perfect. It’ll probably sound a little broken, perhaps a little like, “sh-hallelujah,” or “da-allelujah.”

When you hear it, you may want to take off your shoes, because you’re probably on holy ground. You see, it’s not the prim, proper and perfect, but the contrite hearts, the broken hallelujahs, that God is searching for, and drawing near.

Hallelujah.

What’s that got to do with Revelation 19?

I didn’t see the connection until preparing this message.

All of a sudden, it seemed like God had interrupted our Sunday sermon, on Joshua seven, with what seemed to be a random question, but turned out to be an object lesson; a perfect segue, to today.

Revelation 19, the hallelujah chapter; where hallelujah is found four times. The only place in the book; as a matter of fact, the only place in the entire New Testament. The only other time we see hallelujah, is in the book of Psalms.

Lord, once again we thank You, for teaching, by turning, everyday events, into object lessons.

After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! ² For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” ³ Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” ⁴ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” ⁵ Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!”

⁶ And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Revelation 19:1-6.

Hallelujah, (which means, praise God), rings out four times in those first six verses. 

The first three verses praise God for His righteous, omniscient (all-knowing), judgement. The next three, for His sovereign, omnipotence (all-powerfulness).  

Perhaps I’m overthinking, but I’m wondering why God would highlight, “hallelujah” during our Sunday service in Joshua seven, and not just wait until Wednesday, when we’re actually in the “hallelujah” chapter of Revelation 19.

Well, Joshua seven finds Israel on a winning streak. The waters of Jordan parted for them, the walls of Jericho fell before them, they were on a roll. From Jericho to Ai, (a little city) they didn’t pause to praise God for victory, or, pray for direction into the next. They just kept right on rolling.   

We don’t want to make that same mistake.

It’d be easy to do. Revelation 19 is an exciting chapter. It'd be easy to roll past the hallelujahs, straight to the marriage supper of the Lamb, or, the triumphant return like heroes on white horses.

It’s tempting to skip the courtship, the working through the relationship, the dating and dealing with baggage…and just jump straight into bed.

Alluring to be in the parade, to be on the winning team, like the knight in shining armor, or princess on a white steed. But don’t want to practice and prepare. Want to just go into it, not grow into it.

 

That's not how it works. How it works, is work. We must individually, intentionally, work out, our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

One step, one day, one hallelujah, even if it's broken, especially, if it's broken, at a time.

Make no mistake, the hallelujahs placed here, in Revelation 19, after the tribulation, before the celebration, is important, and on purpose.

Israel learned the hard way in Joshua seven. They went up to conquer little Ai, with chest puffed, head swelled and a cock-eyed grin. But they returned in nothing flat, with head down, tail tucked, and three dozen dead.   

They didn't know, the Lord was no longer with them. (Why’d I think of America just now?)

We must not fall into the pit of presumption, and march ahead thinking we're winning, we’re saved, we’re headed to heaven, when actually…we’re dead.

God told them, they were doomed for destruction, unless they purged the sin. In that situation they had to stone, burn and bury, a man named Achan, and all that was his. Joshua 7:12.

We cannot jump to the wedding feast, until our life, is a hallelujah, even if it’s a broken one.

Many will try, they will feign intimacy, and say, Lord, Lord, but He will say, with His own heart breaking, "Depart from Me, I never knew you." Matthew 7:21-23.

Unless we make Jesus, Savior and Lord, one broken hallelujah at a time, we will never hear from Him, those wonderful wedding words, "I do…"

"I do, know you. Well done. Come…"

 

Lord, I’m dirty, messy and messed up. My house isn't in order. I need a shower. But, if You'll accept me, I offer You my, broken life, my broken hallelujah.

 

When you hear, or utter, a prayer like that, kick off your shoes, for you're on holy ground. The Lord is near the broken hearted, He hears the contrite heart, the broken hallelujahs, He will never turn away. Psalm 51:17.

Remember, we love you.

Most importantly,

Jesus loves you.