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If you're anything like me, and probably most Christians, the book of Revelation is a book you may read less than others. I know a few Christians who love this book and read it often, however, more often than not, I talk with Christians who study its pages quite seldom. The book of Revelation has in many ways gained a reputation in numerous church circles as being an extremely difficult book to understand, with many interpretive challenges largely centered around the prophetic nature of the book and the mystery it holds within its pages. While I do not claim to be any sort of Revelation expert, nor am I overly confident in my ability to properly interpret everything it holds, I firmly know that it is still the Word of God, and a Christian would sorely miss out by avoiding the book altogether or simply leaving it to the "experts". Yes, there are sections of the book that leave me with more questions than answers. However, there is also so much to behold and learn.
Recently, I was reading Revelation 4 and 5 in preparation for something my church is doing. I was struck by the various expressions of worship held within these chapters. In these two chapters, there are 5 different declarations of worship from various sources. This week, let's learn from the worship in the throne room and sing the songs of heaven in our own hearts too.
To set the stage a little, we find these chapters near the beginning of John's revelation. He writes in the first two verses of chapter 4 that he was taken up in the Spirit to stand before the throne of God. (Pretty cool, huh?) John then describes what all he sees.
In verse 6, John begins describing "four living creatures" and compares them to various animals and to man. He then tells us the words these living creatures cry. They say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8b)
What a powerful declaration of worship. First, they don't just call the Lord "holy", but rather, they call Him "Holy, holy, holy". This three part praise is fitting for a triune God. Moreso, however, this cry of worship is to emphasize just how altogether separate our great God is from all else–from any other "god", from everything else in heaven, and certainly from us.
They go on to call Him Lord God Almighty and to worship Him as the One "who was and is and is to come". His eternal nature means that nothing is a surprise to Him, as there is nothing new under the sun. It also means that all the promises of God will stand. He stands apart from all creation as the only constant in our ever changing world.
What would it mean for you to worship God in the words of these heavenly beings today?
There are many ways, but have you ever prayed Scripture? The Word gives us such a vocabulary for worship. Here is an example:
God, you are holy, holy, holy. And I worship you as the Lord God Almighty. You are almighty over all sin, all troubles, all fears, and all evil. You are eternal, God. You are the one who was and is and is to come. Since you are eternal, I can take great comfort in both your control and your enduring grace for all time. Thank you, Lord. I worship you today. Amen.
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