TRUE WORSHIP (3)

“The twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and WORSHIP HIM who lives forever and ever...” – Revelation 4:10a

Focus on the One True God is another unique attribute of TRUE WORSHIP: “Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and WORSHIP HIM who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:  “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” (Rev.4:9-11). From this and other texts in the book of Revelation, we learn from Worship in heaven, what Worship on earth should look and be like.

Today’s meditation text is actually the second of five episodes of worship found in Revelation 4 and 5. Here, the four living creatures joined the twenty-four elders to worship “Him who sits on the throne”! This passage reveals few truths about worship, namely:

Worship involves ascribing Ultimate Worth to God: The twenty-four elders declare God alone as worthy “to receive glory and honor and power.” Fundamentally, worship is rooted in recognizing God’s supreme value and worth. The word worship comes from an Old English word meaning “worth-ship” or the act of ascribing worth to someone. All creation gets its value from God. He alone has inherent worth that does not come from any source outside of Himself. Worship, therefore, joyfully ascribes this unequaled worth back to Him. It is about proclaiming through words, songs, actions, and thoughts that God is worthy of all praise and devotion.

Worship responds to seeing God’s Glory and Power. The elders’ worship was a direct response to the vision of God’s Glory flooding the heavenly temple and His sovereign reign from the throne (vv.2-7). Their worship flows from beholding God’s Majesty and Power, and not because of any external prompting. No one was leading them in this worship; it came from within. God’s Splendor and Sovereignty inherently elicit humble reverence for Him. Worship happens authentically when God’s Greatness is apprehended.

Worship exalts and glorifies God as the Source and Sustainer of All Things: The elders’ song highlighted God as the Creator – “for You created all things” (v.11). God made all things through Christ and “in Him all things consist” or hold together (Col. 1:16-17). Therefore, our worship should rightfully acknowledge Him as the source and sustainer of all things – both the seen and unseen.

Worship calls for Complete Surrender to God’s Sovereingty: Crowns being cast before His throne illustrate worship as a willful act of submission and surrender to God’s supreme authority (v.10). Totak allegiance. Nothing held back. Likewise, our worship of Him must be shaped by recognizing Him as the Lord over all aspects of our lives. True worship bows unreservedly to His sovereignty.

Worship Involves Physical Acts of Reverence: The elders fell down and cast their crowns before God’s throne in humble reverence. Worship appropriately includes physical expressions and postures such as kneeling, lifting hands, bowing down, or laying prostrate before God. Through our bodies, minds, and spirits, we acknowledge God as great and majestic in tangible and observable ways.

Worship looks ahead to the Fulfillment of God’s Plans: The elders’ worship envisioned the culmination of God’s redemptive plan in Christ and the creation of a “new heaven and a new earth” where there “shall be no more pain” (Rev. 21:1-5). They celebrated God’s worthiness to receive all glory, honor, and power in anticipation of the day when His reign and kingdom will be established forever. Our worship should similarly connect what God has done in the past with what He promises to do in the future, in Christ.

Worship focuses entirely on God, not Us. All attetion is directed to God. While worship certainly involves us, it is never about us. Worship is for an audience of One – the Lord God! In Worship, we’re called to lift our eyes above ourselves and focus on glorifying God for who He is and not what we get out of it. God-centered worship frees from self-interest, self-gratification and self-exaltation.