That feeling…that’s almost the heart of the story of Hallelujah.
But what is Hallelujah, really? It's more than just a word; it's an expression, a moment in time. Midrash Tehillim, in its commentary on Psalm 113, sees it as something truly special, something earned. It connects it to Proverbs 31:26, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue." Wisdom and kindness, culminating in praise. Beautiful, right?
The Midrash tells us it took twenty-six generations from creation until the Israelites, finally free from slavery in Egypt, could truly utter Hallelujah. Think about that for a moment. Twenty-six generations of struggle, of hope, of waiting. That's a long time to earn a single word.
So, when did they finally say it? In the very depths of the plague of the firstborn. Imagine the scene: darkness, death, and a desperate Pharaoh. He comes to Moses and Aaron in the dead of night, as Exodus 12:31 tells us, "Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron at night."
But Moses and Aaron, they don't just jump at Pharaoh's command. "Fool," they essentially say, "we stand firm even in the dark. We aren't thieves to sneak away. We will wait until morning, as the Lord commanded in Exodus 12:22, 'And you shall not go out, any man from the door of his house until morning.'"
Pharaoh, frantic, cries out that all the Egyptians are dying, echoing Exodus 33:4, "And the Egyptians were strong against the people." But even then, Moses and Aaron stand their ground.
"Do you want to stop this plague?" they ask. "Then declare their freedom."
And that's what Pharaoh does. He begins to scream, "You were slaves before, but now you are free men! You are under your own authority, and you are the servants of the Lord! You must praise Him!" And then, finally, it happens. The Israelites can finally utter the words that had been building for generations: "Hallelujah, praise the servants of the Lord."
What a moment! From the depths of despair to the height of praise. From slavery to freedom. The word Hallelujah becomes a testament to their liberation, a recognition of God's power, and a declaration of their new identity as servants of the Divine.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What "Hallelujah" moments are we waiting for? What freedom are we striving towards, that will unleash within us that ultimate expression of praise? And what small acts of wisdom and kindness can we embody today, that will help us, and others, get there?