Title: Hallelujah! / (Psalm 146:1-10)
Content Hallelujah should be the title of the song. Hallelujah is a compound word of 'Hallel' (praise) and 'Jah' (short form of Yahweh) and is one of the eternal world languages. Let's give thanks to God with hallelujah on Thanksgiving Day.
I. Seongmin's Lifelong Task (1-2)
“Praise the Lord, O my soul” (1) “As long as I live… I will praise God all my life (2) Our lives are given to praise God. Praise God is true worship. Hallelujah to God Let's worship. Worship is a response of thanks. At this time, you should know that worship is the first work. Worship praising God cannot be done in a passive state without being moved. "Believing in the one whom God has sent" is God Jesus taught (John 6:28) We must do this. Second, worship must be offered with our hearts. Worship becomes when we know God, the object of worship, and think in our hearts what He has done for us. The third worship is possible because of the revelation He has given us. We worship because He gave Himself through the Bible. So the Bible and the proclamation of the Word become the center of worship. The third worship is personal. No one can worship on behalf of others. The community worships, but each father, mother, son, and daughter must worship God: “Praise the Lord, O my soul” (1).
II. The only object of praise (3-5)
The psalmist warns in verses 3-4 not to depend on a nobleman or a life that has no power to help. We often value man more than God, but life (Adam) is dust or dust, and breath is in the nose, so it is not worth counting. Also, although we value ourselves more than God, we cannot solve any problems or urgency on our own. The only one we can depend on unconditionally is God. “Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob as his help, and whose hope is in the Lord his God” (5).
III. Let's give thanks to the one who gave us the greatest blessing (6-10)
Great blessings are promised to those who do not depend on people but only on God. The first Jehovah is our hope, and the second Jehovah is eternally true. Third, Jehovah frees the prisoners (7) and sets them free from sin spiritually. Fourth, Jehovah opens the eyes of the blind (8). He allows us to know the Bible as the truth and see Jesus as the object of our faith. Fifth, the Lord raises up the humble (8). God cares for us and raises us up. Sixth, Jehovah loves the righteous (8). Love is an attitude rather than an action. Seventh, Jehovah protects the stranger (9). He cares for and protects the defenseless, such as strangers, orphans and widows. “The Lord protects all who love him” (Psalm 145:20).
closing words.
Forever God must be praised (10). God alone is the object of worship, and He is perfect in goodness, power, and faithfulness. Let's sing hallelujah. On this Thanksgiving Day, I hope that you will become all the saints who give thanks to God with hallelujah.