1I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book or to look in it. 4Then I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look in it. 5One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome: he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
6I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. 7Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8Now when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9They sang a new song, saying,
“You are worthy to take the book
and to open its seals,
for you were killed,
and bought us for God with your blood
out of every tribe, language, people, and nation,
10and made us kings and priests to our God;
and we will reign on the earth.”
11I looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!”
13I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”
14The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the elders fell down and worshiped.
13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!”14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the elders fell down and worshiped.
We are back again where we left off in chapter 4. We are watching worship. Real worship starts when we get our eyes off ourselves, and we put our eyes on God. We briefly reviewed the Hebrew word avodah. That is the Hebrew word meaning three things: worship, service, and labor. It is God’s word for ALL THREE. Many think that worship can only be expressed with hands up, singing praise to God, but God’s definition is much broader than that. We can do many different things to engage in worship. Everything around us and in our lives should be a “praise prompter.” My dad used to look at green plants and praise the Lord. He would say, “Just think about photosynthesis! Think about how God allows the plants to live and the earth to breathe. He put it all in balance.” He used to marvel at the presence of DNA in each of our cells. He would tell me, “Son, DNA is God’s fingerprint in the world”. When Dad declared these truths, he was engaging in worship. Admiring nature and proclaiming God’s evidence in it is worship.
Our recognition of the world around us should stimulate worship. I’ve heard it said that “Our theology should form our hymnology.” When we sing of God’s attributes, we are engaging in worship. Worship includes, but is not limited to, the following:
We can worship through music. Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. (Psalm 96:1-3, NKJV). We sing of God’s eternal nature. We sing of his truths.
We can worship through prayer. Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2, NKJV). When we speak to the Lord and listen for His voice, we are in worship.
We can worship through praise and thanksgiving. Praisethe Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 146:1-2, NKJV). Words of praise, adoration, and recognition of God’s presence in our lives are worship.
We can worship through the study of God’s Word. Scripture tells us: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalm 19:7-10, NKJV).
We can worship the Lord in our silence as we remember the great truths of God. 3 Andthese things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.4 But these things I have told you, that whenthe time comes, you may remember that I told you of them. (John 16:3-4a, NKJV).
We can worship God through giving. We must remember that God does not need our money, but He wants our hearts. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Jesus expands on this topic of giving in Luke 6:38. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into yourbosom. Forwith the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” (NKJV).
We can worship God as we serve others. 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14, NKJV).
Reader, you and I have the opportunity to worship Him in all that we think, say, and do. Choose to let your life be one of worship. Why? Because He alone is worthy. He alone is to be praised.