Worthy is the Lamb
Notes
Transcript
v.8:
As the elders play their harps in praise of Christ, remember that music is a common form of praising God.
Since the beginning, music has been a common form of praising God
Since the beginning, music has been a common form of praising God
Ezekiel 28:13
Ezekiel 28:13
You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
Psalm 33:2
Psalm 33:2
Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
1 Chronicles 13:8
1 Chronicles 13:8
Then David and all Israel played music before God with all their might, with singing, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on cymbals, and with trumpets.
In fact, the largest book in the Bible (Psalms) consists solely of songs.
bowls full of incense. These golden, wide-mouth saucers were common in the tabernacle and temple.
Incense was an essential part of the OT ritual
Incense was an essential part of the OT ritual
Priests stood twice a day in front of the inner veil of the temple and burned incense so that the smoke would carry into the Most Holy Place to God, which symbolized the people’s prayers rising to him.
Leviticus 16:12-13
Leviticus 16:12-13
Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. And he shall put the incense on the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die.
"Lest he die" - A Christian without a prayer life, is a dead Christian.
Specifically, these prayers represent all that the redeemed have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption which is about to commence.
These are prayers which have already been prayed. They have been prayed by saints throughout the ages.
They could be the prayers of your parents, grandparents, even the apostles and the Old Testament prophets.
The prayers concerning God's final and ultimate redemption have been stored up and kept by God.
Keep this in mind when you think that God is not answering your prayers. It may just be that they will be fulfilled at a later time.
Every saint who had lived and died up to that point, who had prayed for Christ's final judgment and redemption, never saw that prayer answered.
However, it is obvious that God has been constantly working toward that end.
Take heart that when you pray, that no prayer is ever lost or forgotten. God hears and knows each one.
vv.9-10:
We see the four living creatures fall down before the Lamb in worship, as the elders sing a song.
"And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
This song of praise is directed toward the Lamb.
It is quite common in Scripture for a "new song" to be sung, when one has experienced God's redemption or deliverance.
Those who have experienced God’s redemption will sing a new song
Those who have experienced God’s redemption will sing a new song
Psalm 33:3-4
Psalm 33:3-4
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth.
Psalm 96:1-2
Psalm 96:1-2
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Psalm 144:9-10
Psalm 144:9-10
I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You, The One who gives salvation to kings, Who delivers David His servant From the deadly sword.
The new song is a song of redemption.
He is worthy. His worthiness for this task was won by his loving sacrifice on the cross.
v.11:
Notice that after the song of praise of Christ's redemption, all of the heavenly hosts join in praise.
The praise now includes the four living creatures, and the many angels.
The number is staggering! However amazing the magnitude of this praise is, Christ is worthy of infinitely more.
This is a testament to the power of music in our worship!
v.12:
The recurring theme is "worthy", and it is pronounced with a loud voice.
Indeed, it is worth shouting!
He is worthy because He was slain.
He is worthy because He was forsaken.
He is worthy because He became sin for us.
He is worthy to receive power.
He is worthy to receive riches.
He is worthy to receive wisdom.
He is worthy to receive strength.
He is worthy to receive honor.
He is worthy to receive glory.
He is worthy to receive blessing.
He is worthy, simply because of who He is!
Make no mistake, power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, honor, glory and blessing are already His.
As God, these things have belonged to Him from eternity past, and will always be His.
His receiving the scroll is a formal and permanent claim to those things which satan has tried to steal.
He is about to put Satan's time to an end, and soon there will be no doubt in anyone's mind that these things belong to Christ.
Satan will be able to deceive no longer.
v.13:
The entire creation will praise God.
God must be praised, it is impossible for Him to go without praise.
God must be praised
God must be praised
Luke 19:37-40
Luke 19:37-40
Luke 19:37-40
Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
The praise of God cannot be kept silent, and it will continue into eternity.
Why? Because He is worthy!
If you want to know what we'll be singing about in heaven, its right here.
We will be singing praises to the Lamb.
We will sing the wondrous story of redemption in praise to the Lamb.
I love to tell the story, twill be my theme in glory. To tell the old old story, of Jesus and His Love
v.14:
This story will be met with "amen!", and the worship will continue forever and ever.
We have every reason to worship Him today, and to do it publicly with a loud voice.
No longer should the church remain silent.
We should be loud and sure, proclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.