by Zack Waite
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
I am very grateful to have come to understand one Hebrew word, “hallel.” It has redefined and revolutionized the concept of worship for me. Worship is a concept we casually, sometimes flippantly label as “praise” or “worship” that is so deep, and multi-dimensional that the Hebrew language employs seven distinct words to attempt to fully convey its meaning. These ancient terms, and I'm only addressing one word here, reveal something spectacular that our modern church culture is often oblivious to. Namely, that is worship was never meant to be confined to a weekly gathering, or measured by the profundity of the preacher, or gauged by the talent of the singers and musicians.
For a long time, I thought if we were going to sing a “praise” song, it was going to have a speedy tempo and some catchy words to it. Recently I’ve expanded my understanding to include special moments like spectacular sunrises, lunar eclipses, and personal victories. But alas, this Hebrew word (‘hallel”) teaches me a different story. I’m no grammarian and I’m not offering a class in Hebrew vocabulary, I’m seeking transformative truth, and worship that transcends the run of the mill worship experience.
“Hallel”; it's the word we get “hallelujah” from, and means “to boast, to celebrate, or to make a show of.” It’s an action word, a verb, not a genre of music or a particular style of preaching. What is communicated by this rich Hebrew word is that I’m praising God by serving someone in need, by showing heartfelt compassion to the hurting, by giving with generosity, by welcoming those different from me, and by acknowledging God as the source of it all.
Sunrises and blood moon eclipses might inspire awe in the moment, but I’m learning that true unadulterated praise unfolds in how I treat people, how I speak to others, and how I respond to those who disagree with me. Understanding better “hallel,” and the other six Hebrews words for worship has expanded my vision to encompass my whole life, transforming worship from a particular event to my 24/7/365 living.
I think I will attempt to answer the question in three parts: 1. I should not go out of my way to be unnecessarily offensive. 2. I should not be afraid of being offensive when necessary. And 3. I should get busy doing practical good deeds that, in general, people will find it hard to object to.
In his 2015 book, “Extreme Ownership,” author Jocko Willink defines the title concept as follows: “On any team, in any organization, all responsibility for success and failure rests with the leader. The leader must own everything in his or her world. There is no one else to blame. The leader must acknowledge mistakes & admit failures, take ownership of them, and develop a plan to win.”
A few years ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to become a part of the Board of Directors of International Disaster Emergency Service (IDES). I’ve been exposed to IDES and their incredible ministry for as long as I can remember and have, on several occasions, had the joy of sharing in its work. From participating in work trips to a storm-ravaged Pearlington, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina, to helping with shed building projects after a tornado ripped through our neighboring region in 2012, to volunteering with numerous “God Always Provides” (G.A.P.) food packing events, IDES has always been a familiar and beloved mission to me.
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