Christmas Devotion # 5

Hallelujah!

On his robe and on his thigh he has this written: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

The other day I was standing in the fabric section of Walmart when The Hallelujah Chorus started playing. I started out singing just under my breath, but as the song continued the louder I got until eventually I was singing without care as to volume or who was listening.

My love affair with The Hallelujah Chorus goes way back to high school. My choir instructor, Mrs.Quick, made us learn that song for our Christmas performance. When I say learn it I mean that we spent weeks and weeks hammering out every minute part of it until we sounded like the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Mrs.Quick said the song was sacred and, therefore, deserved a flawless performance. She would accept nothing less.

At the time it seemed grueling and I couldn't see any value in the effort to learn it. Yet, today when I hear it I can immediately chime in and sing the soprano part because it's embedded within me. Granted, I don't sing well and I can't hit all of those high notes when it gets to certain parts, but I can remember it and I sing with all my might. Nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit any quicker.

Do you know why I love this song so much? It focuses on Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. At Christmas it's easy to get so focused on the little baby in the manger that we forget that the baby grew up and He died for our sins and now He is truly King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As we celebrate Jesus' birth, we need to also celebrate His life, death, resurrection and His position as King and Lord. He's not just a baby in a manger any more.

Pray: Lord, we honor you as King and Lord over all. We are so grateful that you're more than just a baby that was born in a manger. You reign and we gladly bow before you.

Ponder: If you happen to own The Hallelujah Chorus take a few minutes to listen to it. Sing along if you know the words. If you don't have this particular song, then find another song that extols our Lord and King and sing with all your might.

Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!...Revelation 19:6

The Hallelujah Chorus
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
The kingdom of this world
is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
And Lord of lords,
And He shall reign,
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah!