The Hallel
Isn’t it funny how lyrics to songs seem to stick with you longer than just about anything else? I can’t remember word for word anything I read in high school but I can remember the words to just about every song that was on the radio back then.
In Jesus time there were no individual Bibles. Every scripture was written on scrolls and kept in the temple. Memorizing the Bible was the only way to take it with you. Then, there is the Psalms of David.
The Psalms were sung at Jewish festivals and holidays as part of their tradition. During the Passover the Hallel (meaning praise) was sung or recited. Psalms 113-118 were traditionally sung. These psalms praise God for delivering the Israelites out of Egypt.
Psalm 113 opens the Hallel with a call to praise God. Psalms 114 and 115 recount God’s deliverance from Egypt. Psalm 116 expresses gratitude for God’s salvation.
Psalm 117, the shortest psalm, simply invites all nations to praise the Lord.
”And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.“
Matthew 26:30 NKJV
No one can say for sure what hymn they sung before leaving to the Mount of Olives that night but, the final song of the Hallel would have been Psalm 118.
Psalm 118 was often called the “Conqueror’s Psalm” and contained verses of triumph over enemies. It was a perfect psalm for Jesus to sing in light of his impending death and resurrection. Interestingly, Psalm 118 is quoted numerous times in the New Testament referring to Jesus.
1.”Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2.Let Israel now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 3.Let the house of Aaron now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 4.Let those who fear the Lord now say, “His mercy endures forever.” 5.I called on the Lord in distress; The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place. 6.The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7.The Lord is for me among those who help me; Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me. 8.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man. 9.It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes. 10.All nations surrounded me, But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 11.They surrounded me, Yes, they surrounded me; But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 12.They surrounded me like bees; They were quenched like a fire of thorns; For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them. 13.You pushed me violently, that I might fall, But the Lord helped me. 14.The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. 15.The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 16.The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly. 17.I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of the Lord. 18.The Lord has chastened me severely, But He has not given me over to death. 19.Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, And I will praise the Lord. 20.This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21.I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22.The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23.This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24.This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25.Save now, I pray, O Lord; O Lord, I pray, send now prosperity. 26.Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We have blessed you from the house of the Lord. 27.God is the Lord, And He has given us light; Bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar. 28.You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. 29.Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.“
Psalms 118:1-29 NKJV
Psalm 118 has clear connections to the crucifixion story. Verse 22, quoted in the gospels, refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Psalm 118:27 mentions a procession with branches, reminding us of Palm Sunday.
Verses 10-13 speak of persecution and being surrounded by enemies – a likely allusion to Jesus’ betrayers. Finally, verse 14 proclaims “The LORD is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation.”
Prior to his arrest and crucifixion, Jesus paused to sing hymns of worship to God. This displays his complete surrender to the Father’s will. Despite the anguish he felt regarding his impending suffering, Jesus put God first by worshiping and praising him.
Jesus modeled for all believers how important it is to worship God, especially during difficult times.
”Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.“
Psalms 95:6 NKJV
This brings glory to God when we trust his sovereignty even in the face of adversity.
”Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.“
Psalms 29:2 NKJV
The word Hallel means to praise and it is the root word for our word Hallelujah which means a shout or a song of thanksgiving or praise.
While we don’t know definitively which hymn Jesus sang at the Last Supper, we do know that he engaged in worship with his disciples even as he anticipated his own suffering and death. Through singing psalms and hymns together, Jesus demonstrated love and unity with his followers until the very end.
”While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.“
Psalms 146:2 NKJV
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
In Jesus Name - Amen
Pastor Doug
