Revelation 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
In the last two posts, we examined the images of the four beasts who are flying around the throne, the twenty-four elders who are seated around the throne, and most importantly The One who is sitting on the throne. We have looked at what Old Testament passages this description references back to and some possible significances of what some of the descriptions mean.
But as we were finishing up the last Bible study, this ending section jumped out at me as the most important part of the chapter, and one that could possibly set the trajectory for and change someone's life and perspective. I realized through people's comments as we were ending the study that what is said in worship here is the key to whether or not we are going to go the way of the Lamb and of the four beasts who fly around the Throne, or the way of the Dragon and the many-headed beast that appears later in the book. The whole issue comes down to who is worthy.
We discussed in the last post how incredible it is that these magnificent, incredible creatures (whom I identify as the cherubim from Ezekiel's visions) are completely in tune with where the spirit wants to go. And in this chapter that is especially emphasized. These beasts realize that the truly worthy one is the One on the throne who lives forever and ever. They are created--He is the Creator! And they give glory, honor, and thanks to Him!
But we know that not every spiritual being or even every cherub has always reflected that attitude.
Ezekiel 28:11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.
Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Ezekiel 28:14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
Ezekiel 28:16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.
Ezekiel 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.
Ezekiel 28:19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.
Notice what happened in the heart of this anointed, covering cherub. What are some things we can pull out of this section that drew away this perfect, beautiful creature from what it was created to do? What iniquity was found in him?
Now this can be a difficult passage to parse out, because we seem to be talking about the fall of an angelic being, but also the king of Tyre, but also the city of Tyre. But try to enter into what the prophet is doing. He is conflating these three concepts, and by doing so, he can show the spiritual similarities between the city of Tyre and the spiritual being who is behind the governing of the city, which is also behind the governing of many cities and nations in our world, and maybe even in our own heart. But what are the things that the prophet identifies as problems?
- The multitude of merchandise led to violence
- Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty
- Your wisdom is corrupted by reason of YOUR brightness
But what about the attitude of the cherubim who didn't fall? Who weren't obsessed with their own worthiness, and instead recognized the worthiness of the One who sits on the Throne? Why, when the four beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, look what happens!
Revelation 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
It's as if one act of worship inspires another! I've seen this in church services, myself! Extravagant, genuine praise tends to be contagious. I've felt it! When I see a heartfelt, sincere act of worship, it makes me want to worship! I remember seeing people in a church in Nicaragua with no air conditioning, just open windows to let in the breeze, and they were all dancing before the Lord in such an enthusiastic way, that I fell down in my suit on the dirty, concrete floor and began praising God with my face to the ground, just because of the worship I saw being given to Him. Isn't it amazing that our praise can have that kind of an effect?
The elders are in their rightful places, after all. They have overcome, and now they are a royal priesthood, ruling and reigning with Christ, just as He promised. These crowns were given to them by Him, after all! But in His presence, all they can do is take those crowns that were given and throw them before the throne. As my wife said in the Bible study, how can we wear these crowns when we know it was all because of Him that we even have them in the first place? All we have to offer is what He has given, so we throw the crowns before Him.
Many haven't been willing to throw their crowns before Him though... Saul and Herod come to mind. The question is who is worthy of those crowns? The twenty-four elders have an answer.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
It all comes to the question of who is worthy and what we were created for. Who do we consider worthy to receive glory and honor and power? Do we think that WE are worthy of those things? The issue really does come down to what has the most worth in our lives. This will determine our eternal destiny. You may have heard that the word "worship" comes from the idea of "worth-ship."
Old English worðscip, wurðscip (Anglian), weorðscipe (West Saxon) "condition of being worthy, dignity, glory, distinction, honor, renown," from weorð "worthy" (see worth) + -scipe (see -ship). Sense of "reverence paid to a supernatural or divine being" is first recorded c. 1300. The original sense is preserved in the title worshipful "honorable" (c. 1300).
(https://www.etymonline.com/word/worship)
This is the Greek word...
G4352 προσκυνέω proskuneō
Thayer Definition:
1) to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence
2) among the Orientals, especially the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence
3) in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication
3a) used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank
Part of Speech: verb; A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4314 and a probable derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand)
Do you recoil at the idea of worship being like a dog licking it's master's hand? The Syro-Phonecian woman in Matthew 15 may have some things to teach us about that mindset...
The end of Romans chapter 1 describes society off the rails, listing every kind of sin and perversion you can imagine. How did it all get this way? You have to trace it back in Romans chapter 1 and realize that ultimately, it is a problem with worship.
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Romans 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Romans 1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
Romans 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
Romans 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Romans 1:31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
I'll be honest, it's tempting to recoil at this. Why were we created? Just for God's pleasure? How self-absorbed! But we don't understand what brings God pleasure. When we think of pleasure, oftentimes our minds go to self-indulgent, selfish pleasures. (At least that's my initial thought...you readers are probably better people than me!) But what gives God pleasure? Let's look at a couple of verses that discuss what pleases the Lord.
Numbers 24:1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness.
Judges 13:23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.
1st Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1st Chronicles 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
Ezra 10:11 Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives.
Psalm 5:4 For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 51:18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
Psalm 51:19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Psalm 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:31 This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
Psalm 147:11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Psalm 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
I could go on, but are you getting the picture of what really pleases the Lord, of what it really means that God created us for His pleasure? When will we realize that when we seek His pleasure rather than our own, it really has the best outcome for us?
We were made for Him, not the other way around. It is time that we ascribed more worth to our Creator than to ourselves and recognize that His pleasure is far more important than ours. That revelation will set the tone for the rest of our lives.
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