Again there's worship given to this Lamb in the beautiful songs offered up by believers, angels and creation! There's significance in the number of attributes ascribed to Him in each song. The attributes mentioned remind us of what makes Him worthy and that He was slain and made the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of men from "every tribe and language and people and nation." Rev 5:9b
Mention in verse 5 of Jesus being "the Lion, of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" in reference to Him coming from the line of David, makes me think of the "Jesse Tree" Advent tradition. I love to walk through Advent reflecting on often well known Bible stories that show the progression from creation, to the promise of a Saviour after the fall in the Garden of Eden to the fulfillment in Jesus' birth, life and death.
I liked the final paragraph of the devotion. Ready to read on with me?
Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!
The Lamb is reigning on his throne.
Hymn 714 CWS
3 comments:
This reading and the devotion were just great! The worship and praise of the Lamb! Connecting the Old Testament rituals to Christmas to Easter to eternity! The anticipation of reading what is on the scroll! Just awesome.
Some other things that struck me:
v4 - "I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside." That's some serious weeping! It doesn't just say "I wept." It says "I wept and wept." Is he weeping at the fact that the scroll will not be opened? To me it seems unlikely that a grown man will weep and weep because his curiosity will not be satisfied. So that led me to think perhaps he is weeping because of utter helplessness and sins and failures - his own, and of all of humanity?
v8 - "Each one [of the twenty-four elders] had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people." I don't often think of my prayers as something that could be held in a bowl. I think what came to mind when I'd hear about prayers being incense was something like wisps of smoke that would waft up to heaven and then dissipate when God hears them. I knew God wanted me to pray, but I thought prayers were more for my benefit - and of course I can pray for others for their benefit too. When I thank and praise God in my prayers that's good, but I didn't think about them being part of anything that would bring God glory apart from my mind and his knowledge of my appreciation of him (made acceptable by the blood of his son). I didn't really think about my prayers being a part of the whole of that which brings God glory for eternity.
I should acknowledge here that my prayer life is not what I wish it was. Definitely some room for growth there. Perhaps thinking of each prayer I pray as a drop in one of the elders' incense bowls will give me a better attitude toward prayer as something that brings honor and glory to my God.
Just stewing a bit on your comments and had some thoughts on them ...
v4 - John is having a picture of heaven but he's not there yet. He's still "one of us". Things can look pretty bleak this side of heaven! There are times we can feel like John too - utterly helpless; that all is lost! When things like 911 happens, or anytime I watch the news! When a new, huge mosque is being built down the street from me and every time I'm at Costco I'm surrounded by their presence - I can get panicked and fearful. When my freedom to teach my own children from the Bible in my own home is threatened to be taken away by a government, I am scared of what's to come! And yes, John too may be weeping because of the utter helplessness he feels. But those in heaven already know the Saviour because they wouldn't be there without him! They may not be privy to the details but they know that even while their salvation was assured, so is the future for the rest of us! That's a perspective I'm glad to get!
v8 - After reading your thoughts, my mind went to singing page 55 from the liturgy - "Let me prayer rise before you as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly; hear my voice when I cry to you." This is taken from Psalm 141. Thankfully, our attitude toward prayer is not what makes them worthy or not worthy - Jesus through his saving work already has!
I'm a bit late in responding to this, but I'm thankful the author tells us to not fear. He does it several times in this book and each time it happens at just the right time where I'm starting to feel my mind begin to whirl. He reminds me to take a deep breath and do just what he says: have no fear but believe God's promises. Here's hoping this encourages others to do the same!
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