God’s Songs Of Praise

In Revelation 4:8 we hear the first of 20 hymns and songs of praise that are sung in the book of Revelation. In chapters 4 and 5 we have the first 5 hymns, sung to the Father as Creator and to the Son as Redeemer.

Jesus had John witness this and then send it to the persecuted churches of John’s time. This worship scene foretold in Revelation 4 and 5 meant that their own pain would be changed into praise.

The hymns or doxologies are sung like a concert, a concert that is so vast it will fill all of creation. The praise begins with the 4 Seraphim singing Holy, Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty. Notice what the Bible says about their praise, it is not just a song to God, but the giving of glory and honor and thanks to God.

When they finish, then the 24 elders, that represent us the children of God fall down before God and their song breaks forth. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you have created all things and for thy pleasure they exist and were created.”

This concert of heaven begins in the 24 mouths of the four living creatures and then is taken up and amplified by the 24 elders around the throne. In chapter 5 it will be sung by both the elders and the living creatures and then by thousands and thousands of angels and finally by all of creation, All of heaven and earth lifting their voices in pure joyous, glorious, beautiful, perfect praise. (There will not be a missed note in all that vast universal choir)

Hearing Handel's Messiah the First Time

My wife LeeOra and I were from a small mining town in Arizona and had never heard attended a symphony.  We had no idea what to expect, our college choir director told us to dress like we were going to church and that was about it. We arrived at the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Fair Park Music Hall, found our seats and  began to enjoy the music and the singing. Then the symphony came to the movement called the Hallelujah Concert. And as the orchestra plays and the singers on the stage begin to sing, “For the Lord God Omnipotent Reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” It was very beautiful but I began to see people start to stand up, at first I thought the concert was over and they were leaving, like people do during the credits of a movie. (I had been to a few movies before) All over the concert hall people are standing up but they aren’t leaving no they are singing along with the choir and lead singers on the stage. Oh no, no one told me it was a sing along. Luckily the words were pretty straightforward, pretty easy to remember, "Hallelujah!"

This standing up was a tradition, legend says, started by the King of England when Handel first presented the symphony in London. When the King heard he stood in respect to the risen Lord. When the King stands then all those in attendance also had to stand. From that day on anytime the Messiah is performed and the Hallelujah chorus begins everyone stands and many times join in the singing. That first time we heard it, over 3000 people stood and began to sing. I had never been in a place able to hold 3000 people and I had never heard 3000 people sing praises to my Lord and Savior.

Well quite literally, the hairs on my neck and arm stood up, my skin prickled and my tears began to fall. And as best we could we joined in the singing, Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah! I remember thinking that was probably a small sense of what this concert in the throne room of heaven will be would be like one day.

One day God’s children will fall down before the throne of God and will sing with the host of heaven, praising the One upon the throne and it will be the most beautiful concert that has ever been performed. All the music that has ever been played, all the symphonies that have ever been performed, every opera that has ever been sung will sound like the nursery rhymes in comparison.

And as we sing the song of the ages to God our creator, we will take our victor’s crowns and reverently and joyfully place them at the foot of the throne. Our crowns and praise are the only things worthy to be given to God, he praise or our lips and the service of our life laid at His feet. There is no other offering worthy of our God, just ourselves, and just our praise.

Conclusion

Because I’m His child, because I’ve accepted God’s gift of grace, through Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross, because one day God will call all his family home, I’m going to be there. I’m going to hear that song. I’m going to be a part of that choir. I’m going to hear the Serphim start their song and then on cue, I’ll fall to my knees and praise my Creator. Then I will place my own victor’s crown, the sum total of my life’s work for my God and Savior, at the foot of the throne. There it will join the crowns of all the redeemed of all eternity cast at the feet of Him who is worthy.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Wouldn’t it be tragic to miss such a day? It would be eternally, the most regretful thing that could ever happen to a soul created by God, but who missed the summons of God to “Come up here” and hear, “I will show you great things.” Don’t miss it, the invitation is open, the door is open and God, the Son and we the children of God say, "Come."