Holy God
Opening Prayer
Holy God, may our worship rightly reflect the majesty of whom we worship.
Read Revelation 15:1-8
[1] I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. [2] And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God [3] and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the nations. [4] Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” [5] After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple-that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law-and it was opened. [6] Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. [7] Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. [8] And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the content of the worship?We have lived together through chapters 10–14 of this strange and wonderful book. The next four chapters are stranger still. And wonderful too.The present chapter marks the final cycle of judgments which will herald the end. They are plagues (reminiscent of Egypt; Exod. 7–10) which are poured into the waiting bowls of God’s wrath. But before the pouring we are back in heaven listening to the singing (3,4). A multitude sing praise to a holy God, wonder at his truth and justice and adore his majesty. They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (3); celebrating Calvary and the last great Exodus are the two focal points in the story of our deliverance into freedom.Often the worship we offer focuses on God’s tender love and how it makes us feel. There is nothing wrong with that per say, but we should not lose sight of God’s power, justice and glory. As we watch the scene in heaven, smoke billows out from the throne and fills the worship arena (8). The God we cheerfully worship is a consuming fire. “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” (Reginald Heber, 1783–1826). We have lived together through chapters 10–14 of this strange and wonderful book. The next four chapters are stranger still. And wonderful too.The present chapter marks the final cycle of judgments which will herald the end. They are plagues (reminiscent of Egypt; Exod. 7–10) which are poured into the waiting bowls of God’s wrath. But before the pouring we are back in heaven listening to the singing (3,4). A multitude sing praise to a holy God, wonder at his truth and justice and adore his majesty. They sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb (3); celebrating Calvary and the last great Exodus are the two focal points in the story of our deliverance into freedom.Often the worship we offer focuses on God’s tender love and how it makes us feel. There is nothing wrong with that per say, but we should not lose sight of God’s power, justice and glory. As we watch the scene in heaven, smoke billows out from the throne and fills the worship arena (8). The God we cheerfully worship is a consuming fire. “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” (Reginald Heber, 1783–1826).
Apply
Pray through the lyrics of “Holy, holy, holy” as you worship God now.
Closing prayer
Righteous, Just and Holy God, teach us to honor You with lives that are holy.
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