Jesus in the Book of Revelation (3)
Pray Psalm 8.1, 2.
O LORD, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Sing Psalm 8.1, 2.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
O LORD our Lord how great is Your Name in all the earth!
The heav’ns display Your glory, and tell Your wondrous worth!
From babes and nursing infants, LORD, let Your strength increase,
’til all Your foes surrender, and all their boasting cease.
Read Rev. 5.6-6.17; meditate on Rev. 5.6-14.
Preparation
1. How do the inhabitants of heaven respond to the Lamb?
2. Why do they respond this way?
Meditation
This scroll symbolizes the divine economy, that is, the Kingdom of God. What is written here will unfold throughout the rest of Revelation as the Lamb directs. He is the Ruler of history.
The right response to this is worship. All the events of all time are determined by God, ruled by Christ, carried out by His Word and Spirit, and all for the praise of God and His glory. The Lamb, by virtue of His sacrifice, is deemed worthy to open this book of the Kingdom and thus to inaugurate and administer the Kingdom. His people, together with all creation, acknowledge His rule and the reason for it in solemn worship (5.8, 10).
The mention of myriads of angels in v. 11 recalls Daniel 7 and suggests that that chapter could be regarded as a kind of synopsis of what Revelation unpacks more fully concerning the Kingdom which the Son of Man gives to the saints (Dan. 7.18-27). The eyes and horns of the Lamb (v. 6) represent the Spirit of God and symbolize perfect understanding and complete power. Jesus Christ has what it takes, so to speak, to make this new economy work.
All creation in heaven and on earth rejoices at the prospect of the coming of the Kingdom (5.11-14), for this portends the re-creation of heaven and earth, beginning “shortly” (1.1-3; 4.1). The witness of creation is of the honor, glory, and power of God and Christ (5.13). Every creature bears this witness in some form or fashion, and we can discern it when we see it as lining up with the witness of saints and angels in heaven (5.11, 12). By getting the heavenly perspective right, and keeping it before us, we can see and hear the witness of creation, and join our voice with it in praise. And the witness is that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (cf. Phil. 2.5-11).
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
We have much to learn from the twenty-four elders, the angels, the living creatures, the ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, and every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, in the sea, and all that are in them, whose praise and songs to the Lamb were pleasing to Him and the Father.
Here are their songs of praise:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals;
for You were slain, 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 reign on the earth” (Rev. 5.9, 10).
“Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5.12)
“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him Who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5.13)
And somehow, in this beautiful mix of voices, the praise of those who remain yet on earth, is also heard. For our praise and prayers are carried to the Father by those now occupying heaven, in “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 5.8). We are able to sing along with all those thousands upon thousands in praise to the reigning Lamb of God.
“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
make melody to Him
with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Ps. 33.1-3).
“Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms” (Jms. 5.13).
The Ruler of history, The Reason for all seasons, The Redeemer of sinners, The Righteousness Savior of His Kingdom deserves our praise and our lives—wholehearted service unto The Lamb Who Reigns forever.
All glory, laud and honor to Thee, Redeemer, King,
To Whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring:
Thou art the King of Israel, Thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest, The King and blessed One!
The company of angels are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men and all things created make reply:
The people of the Hebrews with psalms before Thee went:
Our praise and prayer and anthems before Thee we present.
To Thee, before Thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise:
Thou didst accept their praises—accept the praise we bring,
Who in all good delightest, Thou good and gracious King!
(Theodulph of Orleans, c. 800)
“By getting the heavenly perspective right, and keeping it before us, we can see and hear the witness of creation, and join our voice with it in praise.”
Reflection
1. How important is praising Jesus—specifically, frequently, joyfully—in your walk with Him at this time?
2. Why is praise so important? How do we benefit from giving more praise to the Lord?
3. Whom will you encourage today to join you in making praise a greater part of your life in the Lord?
It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as a Creator, but as our Savior. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Revelation 5.8-14
Pray Psalm 8.3-9.
Christ rules all heaven and earth and all history. Thank Him for the role He has assigned to you in seeking and advancing His Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Commit the details of your day to Him for His glory.
Sing Psalm 8.3-9.
(Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
When I regard the heavens, the work of Your own hand,
the moon and stars which all in their courses You command,
then what am I, O Savior, that You take thought of me,
or I should know Your favor and thus delivered be?
Yet we in Your own image with glory have been crowned,
to worship and to serve You throughout creation ’round.
These works that sing Your glory in our poor hands are placed,
that we may rule before You to magnify Your grace.
Let every beast and creature, in sky or sea or field,
in our hands bring You glory as we Your favor wield.
Let all things sing Your praises, let all declare Your worth!
O LORD our Lord how great is Your Name in all the earth!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Our ReVision series on “The Kingdom Economy” turns to consider the work we’ve been given to do. In our Read Moore column, we continue working through the book, Understanding the Times. And I encourage you to follow our Crosfigell series on Brendan of Clonfert, nicknamed “The Navigator.” Join us and find out why. Click the Articles tab on the home page to see all the selections available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
