Hallelujah! The Hymn of Easter (2023)

 Hallelujah! The Hymn of Easter

  The little country church I grew up in had two pews on the stage at the front of the sanctuary.    Those who wanted to sing in the choir would walk up for the stage and file in--women in front, men in back.  There were no choir robes, just every day people in their Sunday best.  And since it was Easter, the very best of their Sunday best.  The song leader would step to the pulpit and say "Take out your red hymnal and turn to page 416."  The choir would lead the congregation in the first verse--"Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!"  It only took those two short phrases to get our hearts pounding, ready for the triumphant chorus.  Our pastor had a deep bass and he would belt out "Up from the grave, He arose!" and to my young ears, it seemed to rumble all the way around the room.   We would all echo "He arose!!"  My cousin and first best friend, Tara, and I would nudge each other and whisper, "Jesus rose from the gravy!",  and giggle until our parents shushed us.  This is my most-remembered song of Easter.    

There were other Easter staples over the years.    All of them have a common theme--to celebrate the death, burial, and victorious resurrection of Jesus, our Savior and our Lord.  Although we don't think of  Easter songs as carols or hymns like we do at Christmas, Easter Sunday shines the light on the beautiful purpose of Christmas morning. "O Holy Night"  becomes "Glorious Day".  "Oh, Come Let Us Adore Him" becomes "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross".  Christ the Savior is born-- from "Silent Night"-- becomes "Christ the Lord is Risen Today".  "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed.  The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head" becomes "Arise My Love".   More recently, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" became "The Bells are Ringing, He's Alive!" (This last song was recorded by Ray Boltz, and although it didn't receive much play, I love it and wanted to include it!!)

I  find so many childhood memories and emotions wrapped up in song.  So, it made me wonder--how did Jesus react to the music of His time?  Did He love to sing?  I like to imagine He did since so much of His Word invites praise through music.  

Jesus was a Jew, and would have devoutly observed the Passover.  In fact, the last supper was likely a Passover Seder.  

 Psalms 113-118, collectively know as “The Hallel”,  are traditional Jewish prayers that would be recited by observant Jews on Jewish holidays as an act of praise and thanksgiving, and would often be set to music.  Psalms 113 and 114 are traditionally recited before the Passover meal, and 115-118 are said at the end. These psalms would be the remembered, likely memorized, songs of the holy day.   

In the days leading up to Good Friday, we will study the Hallel, Psalm 113-118.  "Hallel" means "praise" in Hebrew, and "jah" (or sometimes "yah") means "God".  Hallelujah, The Hymn of Easter.