Through the Bible - 1 Chronicles 6-7, John 8:39-59
Good morning,
For today's verse we'll return to a passage that we visited within the last couple of weeks, Revelation chapter 4. It was the subject of today's "Tabletalk" devotional.
Chapter 4 follows the previous couple of chapters description of the 7 churches and how they had strayed from true worship.
John's vision here in Revelation 4 is very similar to that of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6.
Today I'd like to look at verses 9& 10:
Rev 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, NKJV
Reading these verses along with holy, holy, holy, in verse 8 brought me back to the old hymn Holy, Holy, Holy (I believe it was page 41 in the hymnal at EEFC). It was a favorite from childhood and I remember singing it with tears in my eyes when it was sung the first Sunday that we visited EEFC.
The picture that stood out in my mind today was the "casting down their golden crowns".
John MacArthur notes, "Aware that God alone is responsible for the rewards they have received, they divest themselves of all honor and cast it at the feet of their King."
Am I, are we, willing to do that today, every day, cast any "crowning achievements" that we may have at His feet as tribute to Him instead of taking personal "glory"?
Read the words of the "old hymn" below, sing them aloud or in your heart, may it move you to praise Him with your whole, undivided heart today.
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Just reading those words probably brought some other hymns to your mind. Go ahead and sing them, may they and His Word resonate in your minds through the day.
In Christ,
Mike
Rev 4:1-10
The Throne Room of Heaven
(Isa 6:1-3)
4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:
"Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
Who was and is and is to come!"
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 "You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created."
NKJV
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