"’OK’ is one of the most frequently used and recognised words in the world” (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-12503686). This interesting and somewhat odd fact I heard years ago, and I’ve verified it in my experience traveling worldwide. Another interesting fact I can’t verify is that “Hallelujah” is also nearly as well-recognized worldwide. I once read a missionary's account that stated they found help more than once in a foreign land simply by saying or singing “Hallelujah” aloud. Shortly afterwards, even in the most non-Christian nation, a Christ-follower or someone familiar with the term would respond.
“Hallelujah” is a very significant word and it aligns well with our current sermon series on Psalms. The word is a combination of the Hebrew: הלל - hâlal, which is the most common word for “praise” in the Bible. And יהּ - yâhh or Jah or Jeh, as in “YHWH,” or “Jehovah.” Whenever someone says “Hallelujah” they are saying in Hebrew “Praise God.” But not a generic god – this is the personal name of God given to Moses and embedded into the Hebrew language. So this word is as holy as it can get – as in the third commandment holy: Deuteronomy 5:11: “You shall not take the name of the LORD (יהוה - Jehovah) your God in vain, for the LORD (יהוה - Jehovah) will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”
As we’ve studied the Psalms, we’ve learned that there are many categories but nearly all of them have some element of praise. The fact that Hallelujah is so ingrained into the language of humanity reflects the truth that we are created to praise God! A few examples of this word in various languages are: Alhamdulillah ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ (Arabic); Hālìlùyà 哈利路亚 (Chinese); Alléluia (French); Aleluya (Quechua); Haleluya (Indonesian).
We are created to praise God and our words are powerful instruments of worship. In any and every setting, we can invoke the name of God and rightly offer up praise simply by saying or singing this word “Hallelujah.” In doing so, we join with a chorus of believers from around the world and throughout time worshiping the one true God!
Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Certainly this one word, “Hallelujah,” can release life when used as it is intended to worship Jehovah. I encourage you to use this word often and with reverence.