True Worship - part 2

A devotional probably shouldn't start with a disclaimer, but I want to do that, since my title could be misleading. My goal is not to write about any kind of "worship wars" or even probe whether certain songs are better suited as worship songs than others. No, my objective is different, although maybe these meager thoughts can be used by the Holy Spirit to set our minds straight about some of the other worship questions that come before us.

Revelation 5 is soul mate to Revelation 4. One pastor described Rev 4 as the scene, the setting and the stage to Rev 5 action, performance and unveiling. Those descriptions are helpful to me in order to fit the two chapters together. Yet I think there is something in the emotion and enormity of Rev 4 which combines with different emotions and intimacy of Rev 5 to drive us to the very heart of God. And the very heart of worship.

If these two chapters do anything, they drive us away from ourselves and to the glory and grandeur of God. They drive us away from our own salvation, as great as that is, and toward Christ's greater, more glorious plan to redeem for himself a kingdom of priests for God. They drive us away from our light and momentary afflictions and toward a savior who was slaughtered, but is infinitely worthy of our praise, worship and unflinching allegiance.

One last observation: what do you do with the word new in Rev 5:9? Just close your eyes for a moment and ponder how often something new occurs in heaven. To top that, it is a new worship song to a new being at the center of the throne that no other creature could even approach. If words and thoughts escape you, I think that's the point. SDG

[8] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song, saying, 

   “Worthy are you to take the scroll

      and to open its seals,

   for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

      from every tribe and language and people and nation,

    [10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

      and they shall reign on the earth.”

 [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”  (Revelation 5:8-13 ESV)