January 25 - God is Worthy

January 25 - God is Worthy

Revelation 4:7-11

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: 

         “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 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: 

         “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.”

We will spend the final days of January looking at songs of praise from the Revelation given to John.  If I could do anything for you, it would be to make the Revelation as familiar for you as any other book in Scripture.  It is one of my very favorite books and is filled with glorious imagery.

Who are the four living creatures?  They are found in Old Testament literature as well.  In Isaiah 6:1-3, he sees the Seraphim with six wings. They cry out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:3, ESV).  In Ezekiel 1:4-15, he interprets the creatures as having four faces: human, lion, eagle, ox.  These creatures represent all of animate creation, but as important as it is to discern who they are, what is more important is to recognize what they are doing.  All of God’s creation stands in His presence to sing His praise.

The twenty-four elders, which represent the Old Covenant (the twelve tribes of Israel) and the New Covenant (the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ) echo back with worship, but first they fall down on their faces and lay their crowns before God.  In other words, they recognize they are nothing before God.  It is He who is worthy to receive glory and honor and power.  Why is He worthy? Because He created all things and only because of Him does creation exist.

Today, sing out: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”