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2. The Appeal for More Worship of God (Revelation 19:5-7)
REVELATION 19:5-7
5 A voice came from the throne, saying, “Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!” 6 I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! 7 Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. …
Praise our God, you Servants, Both Small and Great! (v 5): John heard a voice from out of the throne-room of God and His Lamb. One of the throne guardians called on the great worshiping assembly to not cease their praise to God, now that the harlot of Babylon had been destroyed. Much more, they were to press through towards the actual goal of this worship. The goal of our faith is not the great Day of Judgment, which will mark the end of mankind's history. Our goal is eternal fellowship, in this spiritual kingdom, with the Holy God and His Lamb, where love and holiness will abound.
The voice from the throne summoned all “servants” of the Lord in heaven and earth to praise our God (Revelation 19:5). This summons at first appeared to be directed to the members of the Old Covenant (1 Chronicles 16:36; 23:5; 2 Chronicles 5:13; Ezra 3:11). The members of the Old Covenant served and feared God (Psalm 134:1; 135:1; Revelation 11:18). This call from the throne did not first of all speak of our love for God, but of reverence and deep respect before the Creator, the controller of all things and judge of mankind. Praise and worship of God should not be offered up merely out of enthusiasm and thanksgiving, but also out of holy awe before His majesty, omnipotence and glory. Many Christians are in danger of treating God all too intimately, speaking frivolously to Him as their Father, thereby forgetting that the Almighty is holy and can tolerate no sin.
All servants of God in their priestly office, all great men and women in government, economy or science, as well as all of the small unknowns in every area of society, should take time to praise and glorify God, to honor and worship Him! “Our charge is to praise God!” Of note, therein, is that the “small” are named before the “great”. The so-called “small” obviously need their Lord and Savior more than most of the rich, honored, clever and beautiful, who think of themselves as being “somebody”. Few of the “great” recognize that they are also “small”, or experience the authority of Jesus` words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for there is the kingdom of heaven!” (Matthew 5:3; Isaiah 57:15 “But many who are first will be last, and the last first!” (Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31; Luke 13:30; 20:16) In spite of the differences in standing and spiritual maturity, all are summoned to praise God together.
The Lord is Our God (v 5-6): In this invitation to worship, the Almighty Creator is addressed as “our God”, in contrast to all other gods, spirits, Caesars, dictators and religions (Revelation 19:5). The Lord, in grace, bound Himself to us in both the Old, as well as the New Covenant. We did not choose Him, but He chose us and made us into His people (John 15:16). We, who were not a people, and absolutely not a spiritual people, have become His people through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Many Jewish people have been unable to comprehend this “enlargement” in the conception of God, and confidently assert: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29). Many Israelites look at Yahweh as their national God. No uncircumcised, and certainly no foreign uncircumcised person (like a Muslim), would have the right to call the God of the Jewish people also their own God. Jesus, however, enlarged this understanding and legacy of the Old Covenant, and also drew people out of the unclean nations that believed on Him into His New Covenant (Matthew 21:33-46; John 10:16). Since then, we live amidst the tension that the Jews, although called to be the people of God, have, in reality, departed from Him, since they reject Jesus as their King. The LORD remains their God, even though the majority of their people want nothing to do with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and have hardened their hearts to the gospel.
The throne guardians, nevertheless, summoned everyone, in time and eternity, to worship the one, true God, and to believe that He bound Himself to us mortals in Christ. We thus, with full authority, can say: You are our God, our strength and our life, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord (Romans 5:16; 8:32-39).
The servants of the Lord and the children of God, who, like Paul, had willfully become slaves of His love (Romans 1:1), did not hesitate to enter into heaven's great hallelujah choir. The magnitude of their voices was so great that John was led to compare them with the sound of many rushing waters. When the voices rose still higher he compared them to the sound of mighty thunderings (Revelation 19:6a). Someone who has stood beside the musical instruments and sung with the choir a performance of the Christmas Oratorio, by Johann Sebastian Bach, is probably best able to follow John's magnificent description of praise to God.
All of the redeemed jubilantly spoke the same word in many languages: Hallelujah! This jubilant and joyous trill resounded out of the mighty fullness of many voices. The Lord be praised! May our God be extolled! Exalted is our Creator, Savior and Comforter! A band of worship united all worshipers in heaven and on earth.
The theme of the day was what most clearly resonated out of the songs and joyous cries: “For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” (Revelation 19:6b). He has employed His power and might in service! His great patience has reached an end. He reigns, is victorious, appoints, acts, accomplishes, carries through His salvation and establishes His kingdom!
It had previously appeared as though God would only punish mankind lightly, and shake the nations just a little. Now, that is over. He will reign and be victorious! Nothing and no one can resist the omnipotence of our God and His Lamb. The son of the evil one and his entourage will be rooted out. The whore of Babylon has been destroyed. Darkness gives way. The kingdom of God comes and is realized in its fullness and depth. Such kingdom proclamations had, in faith, already previously taken place. But now, a new level of this realization had been reached (Revelation 11:15, 17; 12:10). Therefore, jubilation in heaven rose up, as when a bridegroom comes to take away his waiting bride.
PRAYER: Holy Father, You are the Almighty One and have given all authority in heaven and on earth to Your Son Jesus, our King and Savior. Until today, Your judgments were delayed that the redemption of our Redeemer might be realized everywhere. Help us to offer our life entirely to You that You may sanctify what opposes Your glory in our behavior and therefore Your punishment may pass over us and we become worthy to magnify You with hymns of praise and trilling cries of joy. Amen.
QUESTIONS:
- What does it mean that God has taken His kingdom, His right and His authority?
- Why do we have the right to testify that the Lord is our God?