Heavenly liturgy

READ: Obadiah 1; Proverbs 14; Revelation 4

SCRIPTURE: Revelation 4: 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ who was, and is, and is to come.”
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

OBSERVATION: Traditional Christian churches are known for their liturgy, the prescribed form of worship. Usually, the presbyter of a church would conduct such liturgical worships. Liturgies are theologically sound and remind the church about the historical faith of Christianity. Almost all the churches use liturgies either officially or unofficially, starting from encouraging the believers to say amen and alleluia to reciting what is written in the church liturgy. In Revelation 4, we see two praise hymns that praise God the Father and resemble the words of church liturgy (v.8,11).

The description of the four living creatures with six wings has the combined features of cherubim and seraphim (Isaiah 6:2; Eze.1:6,10). They sing nonstop praise hymns saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.” This triple repetition tells us of God’s infinite holiness. It reminds us of the holiness of our triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Bible emphatically says that our God is holy (Lev.11:44,45). “who was, and is, and is to come” is a paraphrase or an expansion of the divine name of God in Exo.3:14-15. Whenever the four living creatures praise God, it prompts the twenty-four elders to praise God. They “fall down” or prostrate and “lay their crowns” before God and worship him. While the living creatures sing the eternal nature of God, the elders praise the creator God. In a unique way, the elders say “Amen” to the living creatures’ praise hymn to God and join them in worship. Their praise and worship come naturally and voluntarily because they understood who God is.

Here, nonstop praise instills nonstop worship. Elders acknowledge that all their achievements and accomplishments are from God by laying down their crowns before the throne. So they say, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” When we understand who our God is, praise and worship are our spontaneous responses. Our true worship is contagious and will make others worship God.  

APPLICATION: I praise and worship God almighty because he is my creator and loves me. He is holy and worthy to receive all glory and honor. Worshiping him is a privileged blessing. The Lord watches over me day and night. He never forsakes and forgets me. How shall I forget to worship him?

PRAYER: Holy God, there is none like you—"majestic in holiness, awesome in glory,  working wonders.” Lord, you are worthy of our praise and worship. I submit myself before you to be holy for you. Father, help me worship you in the splendor of your holiness, today and forever. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
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Day – 347