HALLELUYAH occurs in Psalm 135. In fact, this Psalm both begins and ends with HALLELUYAH. The whole Psalm will not be quoted, but it would be well if you took time to read the whole thing, for it is a most precious Psalm. You will find that it is a contrast between YAH and His chosen people as opposed to idols. To clarify what IDOLS means is a necessity. Idols not only refer to carved and molten images, but the root meaning is far deeper. And, in conjunction with this is the use of HALLELUYAH which gives the victory over the IDOLS. Never belittle the power of HALLELUYAH especially in the hour in which we are living, for manifold and extensive are the IDOLS with which we have to deal.
The Hebrew word IDOL comes from a root which means to CARVE, FABRICATE, FASHION and extends to mean WORRY, PAIN, ANGER. It further means to AFFLICT, LAMENT. It expands to include GRIEVE, SORROW, WORSHIP, WREST. It even means BODILY or MENTAL PAIN. And, it also intimates LABOR and WORKMAN. Now, the question is, "What does all this have to do with the word HALLELUYAH?" Much! Much!
This whole Psalm contrasts PRAISE as opposed to IDOLS. We have little realized the power of praise and the use of HALLELUYAH against all the things involved in the meaning of IDOLS. Let us consider them one by one and how to cope with them. If we could see a literal idol carved of stone or wood or made of silver and gold, we would immediately turn away from it knowing it was false, but the underlying meanings of the word IDOL give us a totally different picture.
First, we have the meaning of CARVE, FABRICATE, FASHION. This does not mean we have to see a material idol, but in our minds and thinking we carve out certain images, fabricate into mental substance various forms of "G-d," and fashion Him according to our past teachings or preconceived ideas. FALSE IDEAS of the Most High are so prevalent, and often we do not even realize these idols are set up in our minds. But, as the light of knowledge is turned on and searches out our mental processes, we begin to see that our Yahweh is not at all like we have pictured Him to be. This is where HALLELUYAH comes into play. This kind of praise raises Him above our ideas and places Him in His rightful and honored place in our very thoughts. It casts down the false ideas and enthrones Him within.
Second, did you realize that WORRY is a minor idol that usurps the place of El Elyon? In itself worry creates pictures and images of things and beings that are not true, not real, not virile except as we give them that place. The greatest weapon against WORRY is the use of HALLELUYAH – all praise to YAH!!! Then the true EL (the Strong One) takes over the realm of worry and turns it into faith. Don't let your worries become your idol! HALLELUYAH will destroy this idol!
Third, even PAIN becomes an idol that we magnify and glorify. Never have the saints been so afflicted and so pain ridden as now, even to the point of being worn out by the same. Pain is so obvious and so all consuming that it exalts itself to the place of being an idol in many lives. Yet many are learning that pain itself can be conquered by the use of praise through HALLELUYAH. This is not an easy battle against a formidable idol, but it is part of that great overcoming to which we are being brought.
Four, ANGER is an idol that exalts itself against every other person and even against the person in whom it is manifest. It burns like a flame of fire consuming all peace and tranquility. It becomes so powerful and such a high standing idol that it takes something entirely supernatural to abase it and conquer it. When anger flares, the one sure cure is HALLELUYAH, even when one does not feel like "halleluyah-ing." It is making the choice between the idol of anger and the position of power of the Most High.
Five, LAMENTING creates an idol of negative forces. To lament circumstances and problems and people but set up an idol to block the way to victory. Therefore the attitude must be changed against such things, until rather than lamenting we shout HALLELUYAH! Such praise destroys the idol of lamentation and fills the mouth and heart and mind with praise to HIM who is worthy.
Six, WORSHIP can also become an idol that must be cast down. Through the years we have all experienced and seen various types of so-called worship – from noise to silence, from chanting to vociferous shouting, from formal singing to charismatic humming, from jumping to prostration, etc. Just name it, and all sorts of things have been termed as worship. And each type finally produces an idol of form to which all sorts of spirits can attach themselves. In fact, let me add right here that any kind of FORM that we adopt but makes an occasion for the enemy to imitate and take over a position in the midst of the people. Therefore the idol of worship must be dethroned until only HALLELUYAH leads us into worshipping in Spirit and in Truth.
Seven, to WREST means to TWIST, STRETCH, BEND in scriptural usage. We live in a day when it seems that every vestige of truth is being twisted, stretched and bent. And, this bent truth then becomes an idol to be worshipped and fought for. In our own thinking, there is much stretched and twisted truth to be straightened out, but as long as there remains "the love of the truth," then it will be righted. Learn to praise and honor HIM, learn the benefits of HALLELUYAH, and every twisted idol will be brought down.
Eight, even LABOR can become an idol whereby people become workaholics. You do not even have to have a job of eight hours a day to become this, but just the everyday tasks can so rule the life that work becomes an idol to be obeyed. So many of us fall into this class of idol worshippers, but HALLELUYAH and praise will right it and give us the release that we so desperately need.
Many more things could be added to the idols that demand our attention, but whatever those idols are, they will all fall at the true praise of His people. HALLELUYAH will dethrone them.
As we come to the end of Psalm 135 we are given a picture of those who praise and bless the Most High, those who conquer the idols by their HALLELUYAH's. Verses 19 and 20 state, "Bless Yahweh, O house of Israel: Bless Yahweh, O house of Aaron: Bless Yahweh, O house of Levi: Ye that fear Yahweh, bless Yahweh." Four categories are given – House of ISRAEL, House of AARON, House of LEVI, and FEARERS or TRUSTERS. These are the ones who will tear down the idols and replace them with praise and HALLELUYAH.
ISRAEL means RULING WITH EL. Those who enter into a rulership position with the Most High will give no place to idols in body, soul or spirit. Out of their minds in particular will they cast the idols of worry, anger, lamentation, etc. Ruling with EL will mean some long battles as it did with Jacob, but he finally prevailed, and so will you. There is no easy way to victory, but HALLELUYAH does bear you through the battle and into victory.
AARON means INITIATED or ENLIGHTENED, and it is those enlightened ones who will use HALLELUYAH to an advantage of thrusting down the idols of twisted ideas and false worship. These are the ones who have passed through the initiation processes to make them one with all the enlightened of all ages.
LEVI means JOINED, and those joined unto Yahshua are one with the Vine in whose branches flow the fullness of life. They are joined because they have cut themselves off from the idols and joined themselves only unto HIM. Their praise and HALLELUYAH have disconnected them from idols of LABOR and ANGER and joined them rather unto YAHWEH.
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