THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED Revelation 5v9-10.
"Thou art worthy..........for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
We approach this section by asking three questions; who is doing the singing? To whom are they singing? and what is the subject of their song? In an attempt to bolster the argument that the twenty four elders are a group of angels, many would change the "us" and the "we" in the verses to "men." However, since the twenty four elders are distinguished in the passage from the body of angels (verse 11) and from what we might call the special branch of the angels (verse 8), it seems to me clear that these are redeemed human beings singing the song of redemption. Their song is directed towards the Lamb and it is a thanksgiving for the great redemption they have experienced. This act of adoration places Christ on a plane above all men and all angels. We as human beings should not worship men who are on the same level as ourselves, far less to worship lesser creatures (this is the folly of all ages as Paul indicated in Romans 1v24-25). The song of worship is duly rendered by redeemed people to the Redeemer. We now consider the content of the song of which there are four elements in their worship.
"Oh the joy when we get there, golden crowns of life to wear, in that blessed land so fair, in that summer land up yonder."
We approach this section by asking three questions; who is doing the singing? To whom are they singing? and what is the subject of their song? In an attempt to bolster the argument that the twenty four elders are a group of angels, many would change the "us" and the "we" in the verses to "men." However, since the twenty four elders are distinguished in the passage from the body of angels (verse 11) and from what we might call the special branch of the angels (verse 8), it seems to me clear that these are redeemed human beings singing the song of redemption. Their song is directed towards the Lamb and it is a thanksgiving for the great redemption they have experienced. This act of adoration places Christ on a plane above all men and all angels. We as human beings should not worship men who are on the same level as ourselves, far less to worship lesser creatures (this is the folly of all ages as Paul indicated in Romans 1v24-25). The song of worship is duly rendered by redeemed people to the Redeemer. We now consider the content of the song of which there are four elements in their worship.
- Worship to the Lamb because he was slain. A reading of the Old Testament narratives will reveal that many lambs were slain; God thus indicating that in order for fallen man to be redeemed a substitute must take their place, One who is fit, and He must die. A reading of the "passover lamb" passage in Exodus chapter 12 makes this clear, that the lamb must be slain and its blood applied to the individual people "Ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the month of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening." (Exodus 12v6). Many today object to this teaching of redemption by blood, but God has made it clear He will accept no less. A bloodless offering will not do. Adam & Eve wanted to cover their shame with fig leaves (Genesis 3). Cain refused the blood offering, preferring to bring the fruits of his own labour in the field ( Genesis 4). God rejected it, and still rejects it today. The Lamb must be slain.
- Worship because we have been redeemed. Redemption is freedom from slavery (or any kind of debt) by the payment of a price. We notice first the cost of redemption. We have been bought with a price that the Lamb paid at Calvary. When Peter would describe this redemption He says "you were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold.......but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb with out blemish and without spot." (1st Peter 1v19). Notice how Peter assesses the value of the blood of the Lamb; compared to the blood of Christ he says silver and gold are "corruptible things." That which mankind values above everything else, for which he will give his entire time and effort and talents, Peter says they are nothing in comparison! The cost of our redemption cannot be computed in material terms. When we leave this earth, the only thing we will have of any value is our ransomed souls. Next we notice to whom we are redeemed "redeemed us to God." By reason of the redemption price paid we now belong to God as His possession. For our redemption He gave His all when He gave His Son and allowed men to take Him for our benefit. Paul summarizes this in (1st Corinthians 6v20) "ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's." Next we see the scope of this redemption "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Not everyone will be redeemed but the point being underlined here is that there is no limitation on lineage, no limitation on language, no limitation on cultures, no limitation on nations. In fact the only limitation is what men put on it themselves by refusing the free grace of God in Christ.
- Worthy because we have been made kings and priests unto God. We have been enrobed with royal dignity and endowed with priestly ministry, able to touch both God and men. Our future is holy service in the presence of God. We shall forever serve in God's temple. What all this means is beyond our imagination. but angels who have been there for many thousands of years are enraptured by it all, and so will we.
- Worthy because we shall rule on the earth. God's salvation means much more than taking away our sins. He has saved us and sanctified us, and will yet glorify us because we have become by His grace the rulers of the new world order. This is an aspect often missed by believers. In this life we are training for a new administrative role in the kingdom of God, where we will be given powers to subdue everything and everyone to the will of God. To borrow the language of another, we are "training for reigning" We say along with the model prayer that Jesus gave His disciples "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
"Oh the joy when we get there, golden crowns of life to wear, in that blessed land so fair, in that summer land up yonder."
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