May 6: Celebrating His Victory.
HIS JUBILATION.
And they sang a new song before the throne....and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.--Revelation 14:3
Through the years, I have been part of, and have directed, several vocal groups and choirs. I remember a particular event when our choir performed songs of a very well-known composer in a large auditorium. What made this performance extra special was the fact that the composer himself was actually playing the piano and directing the choir. We joyfully sang with all our hearts, grateful for the privilege of performing in the presence of the maestro.
Yet this jubilant occasion, or any other this world may offer, does not come close to the celebration we will experience as we gather around the victorious King of the universe! In the only narrative in the book of Revelation that mentions Mount Zion, the Lamb is standing on this very place that had foreshadowed the deliverance of God's people all along But He is not alone; the victorious Lamb is surrounded by His own, those who have "His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1). One hundred forty-four thousand is the number of spiritual Israel, mentioned in Revelation 7:4. The redeemed, excited and exceedingly joyful, start singing a new song in front of the throne. This is our song, for no one else can sing it! In contrast to other worship scenes in Revelation, where the heavenly beings join in praise, this particular song can only be sung by the one hundred forty-four thousand. Why is that? The answer follows in the text itself: "No one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth" (Revelation 14:3). That's why! We are the only ones who can sing the song of redemption that tells the story that no one else can tell. And we will sing our hearts out! The Lamb reigns! Jesus wins! This picture of the victorious Lamb and all of us around Him, gratefully celebrating His triumph, reminds us that pain, cancer, abuse, broken vows, and death are temporary situations, and that soon Jesus will take over and all the hurts and pain of this earth will be no more. Amen!
My Response:________________________________________________________
HIS JUBILATION.
And they sang a new song before the throne....and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth.--Revelation 14:3
Through the years, I have been part of, and have directed, several vocal groups and choirs. I remember a particular event when our choir performed songs of a very well-known composer in a large auditorium. What made this performance extra special was the fact that the composer himself was actually playing the piano and directing the choir. We joyfully sang with all our hearts, grateful for the privilege of performing in the presence of the maestro.
Yet this jubilant occasion, or any other this world may offer, does not come close to the celebration we will experience as we gather around the victorious King of the universe! In the only narrative in the book of Revelation that mentions Mount Zion, the Lamb is standing on this very place that had foreshadowed the deliverance of God's people all along But He is not alone; the victorious Lamb is surrounded by His own, those who have "His name and the name of His Father written on their foreheads" (Revelation 14:1). One hundred forty-four thousand is the number of spiritual Israel, mentioned in Revelation 7:4. The redeemed, excited and exceedingly joyful, start singing a new song in front of the throne. This is our song, for no one else can sing it! In contrast to other worship scenes in Revelation, where the heavenly beings join in praise, this particular song can only be sung by the one hundred forty-four thousand. Why is that? The answer follows in the text itself: "No one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth" (Revelation 14:3). That's why! We are the only ones who can sing the song of redemption that tells the story that no one else can tell. And we will sing our hearts out! The Lamb reigns! Jesus wins! This picture of the victorious Lamb and all of us around Him, gratefully celebrating His triumph, reminds us that pain, cancer, abuse, broken vows, and death are temporary situations, and that soon Jesus will take over and all the hurts and pain of this earth will be no more. Amen!
My Response:________________________________________________________
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