Faithful on Fridays Blog

Can you remember back in third grade learning about superlatives? It’s a great word meaning to compare things and one takes the highest place. We rave about our teams with superlatives when they’re winning, stores with the very best deal or product, our children’s successes, or the best vacation spot EVER!

Interestingly, superlatives in the Bible are reserved for God who alone deserves the highest degree of praise; the word is halal. You may recognize the internationally known Hebrew word: hallelujah, praise to God. The English translators used several words for halal, praise, boast, rave, shout, but here’s the best one EVER: shine. When we praise and brag about God it’s as if we’re shining a spotlight on Him.

… in the midst of the congregation I will praise You: You who fear the Lord, praise Him! Psalms 22:22b-23a

In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever. Psalms 44:8

The definition of boasting is self-admiring, prideful, or have an air of superiority about something or someone in our lives, however, those superlatives should be reserved for God. We rave about Him, we brag about His goodness, therefore, we shine the light on His character.

Job proclaimed (29:3) that it was by God’s light (from halal) that he walked through darkness and David boasted that being with God was like a banquet:

My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips. Psalms 63:5

Here’s another nugget; the word halal can also be translated acting insane. Your ranting and raving about God can make you seem unstable or even crazy; that’s OK because when you’ve experienced God in a dramatic way, a healing, deliverance, or rescue, you go ahead and use every superlative you can muster up. He’s worthy.

About 200 years after the resurrection of Jesus Christ believers sang this song as they glorified God,

The Gloria Patri:

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Think about that. The Church has always sung hymns of praise lauding and celebrating His nature and His Plan; Jesus was our example.

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30

And Paul continued to encourage us in spontaneous praise shining the light on Jesus:

… be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:18b-20

Allow the Spirit to move you into song as you rave, boast, and reflect back to Him:

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Psalms 40:3a