The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-11-20
First Presbyterla, Church.
REV. D. W. FISHER, PASTOR.

TRxr.-Praise 20 tho Lorl.-Psulm 1881.
Tho marginal reading Is Hallelujah,
This Is the angllcized form OF the two
Hebrew words oil the original. It oc>
curs only In the Psalms, where II Is
found about twenty times. In our yer.
sion II Ia always translated, as In the
text, Praise ye the Lord. Usually In
the margin 1t Is also written Hallelu.
jah. In the New Testament the Greek
form OF the word Allelula occurs only
four times, They are all In the nine.
tenth chapter Of the Book OF Revela-
ton, aud comprise a part Of the descrip.
ton OF the scene In heaven after the
overthrow OF the mystic Babylon,
This expression 10 found only In the
closing division OF the Paalter. 1t Is
supposed that the Psalms In which 1t
appears were sung In the public ser
vices OF the temple, and that this word
was taken up by the full chorus OF the
Levites. It ts probable that In the de-
scription In the book OF Revelation lust
referred to, there is an allusion to scenes
Of this kind which John had witnessed
at Jerusalem.
The text is the opening sentence Of
what In the Jewish ritual OF later times
was called the Great Hallel. II con-
sisted of Psalms one hundred and thlr-.
teen TO one hundred and eighteen Inclu.
sive. 1t was used on great public occa.'
sion. The shout OF the multitude when
bringing Christ with triumphal pro.
cesslon Into Jerusalem. 'Hosanua,
blessed Ia he that cometh In the name
Of the Lord was taken from 1t. Inas-
much rs !! was employed In connection
with the Passover, 1t ls probable also
that the hymn which Christ sang with
his disciples before going TO The garden
OF Gethsemaue was o portion OF the
Hallel.
The theme to which the text directs
our attention Is the service OF Praise. I
will speak first In general Of the duty,
and then OF the particular form OF It 10
which we are called to-day.
Praise Is q part OF the service OF God
to which our attention Is too seldom d.
reoted. Rarely 10 q sermon preached or
book published In regard to It. Per.
haps II 10 In part for this reasou that so
many persons have come at least prac-
tioally 10 treat 1t as OF secondary i'm.
purtance. In the Scriptures we are as
frequently taught 10 praise God as 10
ask him for his blessing.
Praise consists 10 two elements. One
Ia admiration, or the devout oelebra..
ton OF the pertectIons OF God as re-
vealed In his Word and manifested In
his works. The other IL In than ksgIv-
Ing. or lively sense of the goodness
OF God toward us, prompting us to the
expression OF our feelings In propar
ways and on suitable occasions. To
both Of these forms OF praIse we are
called by the reaBonabl9uesa and pleas.
ure OF the service, and by tho voice Of
the Scriptures.
We cannot enumcrate the thinga for
which we ought to thank God. Neither
eau VIZ estimate tho absolute value Of
any Of them. The most that we can do
Ia 10 classify Ills benefac!ons, and then
dwell upon those particular acts which
are specially adopted 10 awaken . sense
OF gratitude. Here the old and IA.
milIHr divisions arc the beat, We
ought 10 thank God for our creation,
our preservation, and for our redemp-
ton through his Son.
The manner In which the service Of
praise should DO rendered Ia various.
II may be acceptably presented as an
unspoken emotion OF the soul. Again,
It may be vocal. There IRE two ways
Ia which We may praise God with our
voices. One Is by prayer. Admiration
and thanksgiving belong TO II as much
Az does petition. Another way 10 by
song. THIS form OF praise ought TO be
prominent In the worship OF the closet,
tho family, and the sanctuary. In the