2020.02.11 Hopewell @Home ▫ Revelation 4:8-11

Read Revelation 4:8-11

Questions from the Scripture text: How does Revelation 4:8 communicate that the living creatures have the same ultimate purpose as the burning ones (seraphim) of Isaiah 6:1-10 (cf. John 12:40-41)? How often do they take a rest? What are they doing all this time without rest? What, specifically, do they say about God three times? And then what do they say about God? And then what? How does Revelation 4:9 begin? So, how often is Revelation 4:10 happening? Who falls down before Him who sits on the throne (verse 10)? What else do they do? What do they do with their crowns? Of what do they say the Lord is worthy (Revelation 4:11)? Why? 

Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, and Song of Adoration come from Revelation 4:8-11 in order to sing God’s thoughts after Him with Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence.

This Lord’s Supper hymn brings the awe and reverence of glory down to earth. In the worship in glory of Revelation 4, the immortal beings take the lead—and do so with such profound reverence for the majesty and holiness of God that the crowned elders of the church in glory fall on their faces and cast down their crowns.

This is a glory and majesty that man cannot (and must not) reproduce on earth—but one that Scripture explicitly tells us that we enter into by the simple worship activities of preaching, singing, praying, and the sacraments (cf. Hebrews 12:18-29, in the context of that book).

Therefore, it is a glory that requires faith to perceive. Faith to see Christ Himself summoning us to the worship. Faith to hear Christ Himself as the great preacher and singer—even through the human preaching and singing in worship. If we say whatever comes from us—like Peter proposing tent-camping on the mountain!—we need to hear the voice from Heaven say of Christ, “This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him!”

And when we have that faith, we will know on the testimony of Scripture that we are joining that glorious assembly that says, “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

Let us therefore come with joy, but not with lightness, to this glorious worship of this glorious One!

What is wrong with lightness in worship? How will you guard your heart against it?

Suggested songs: ARP24 “The Earth and the Riches” or TPH292 “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”