Do You Halal Much?
I know many worship leaders are familiar with the 7 Hebrew shades of the word “praise” – a few years back (ok a good many years back), Carman had a song about them. A bit cheesy, but a good source of basic info for these 7 shades of praise.
“Hallelujah”
One of the most common to us in church is the halal. Not because we really know what it means, but because we use it almost every Sunday in our church services.
You might be more familiar with the commonly used churchy phrase “Hallelujah.”
Hallelujah is basically a mashup of 2 words: Halal and Jah.
Jah means (the Lord).
Halal means to be clamorously foolish, it means to boast loudly, to laud, to celebrate, to shine.
In english we translate it as to praise. Man how much we miss by simply using that bland descriptor. Hallelujah does mean “praise the Lord” but somehow it’s lost it’s rich and expressive meaning and become more of a cliche that we toss around like a nerf football at a picnic.
In today’s current culture, probably the best visual picture of the halal is this guy:
We get pretty foolish at our sports events. Now before you all throw the reverence book at me, I’m not suggesting that we show up to lead worship or to a prayer meeting dressed like this, especially the ladies, but I am suggesting that it’s the “spirit” of what makes a “fan” (short for fanatic) that is something to take a look at.
They are wholly devoted to their team. They will go into the team’s “presence” any time they can to have an “encounter” with the team. They will deck themselves out in apparel that SHOUTS dedication to the team. They will shout, clap, cheer, laugh, cry, boast, and go through just about every range of emotional expression as a result of what their team does.
“Halal”
David knew what the halal was.
This is the Halal. Hallelujah doesn’t simply mean “praise the Lord.”
Hallelujah screams out total devotion. It reflects a commitment, a dedication, a devotion.
Hallelujah means “a clamorously foolish, boastful, celebratory, shining, outward display of praise to and for the Lord.”
Something to think about: Halal is clearly an outward PHYSICAL expression of praise and worship to God. But I wonder sometimes if my very LIFE is also a halal to God. Is my heart wholly devoted? Is my life a shining boast of God’s work in, around, and through my life? Do others SEE my life outside of my “singing halals” as a laud or celebration of who God is?
Do you halal much?
I preached about this last year, and did a bit of a David “fool for God’ thing as part of that (sans getting nekkid…it’s ok)
And since then, I’ve wondered does my work life relfect it too. I know it doesn’t all the time, but sometimes it does. I just wanna improve the ratio.
Lately, I have been a singing part of a worship team at a church other than my own (long, different story) that has a great history of praise team, ect – many VERY skillful members – and yet I was invited to fill in on some Sundays and lead up front. I have done a LOT of praying to bring ‘Halal’ with me – I did at my old church, I feel I am SO called to actually LEAD worship, SHOW worship, and be a Halal kind of leader, EVEN on the Sundays when I am in the congregation! It was not easy at first, as I am NOT an ‘out there’ kind of person UNTIL I open my mouth, so I just trusted in Him and I do it. Now, I would do it, response or no, but the human side of me has been – relieved? – to have some congregants come up and thank me for the energy and joy – even though I am sure there are as many out there that are taken aback by it! And it was the sports analogy that I was exposed to earlier this year that made ME step back and really look at this.
Sorry for the ramble, but this is so close to my God-heart – Maggie in Vermont
David. You have that recorded? I’d love to hear it.
Maggie: loved your comment thanks!