The Book The Lamb and the Song

March 26, 1989 AM

Revelation 5:9-14

"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou was slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

"'And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'

"And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

"'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and might and honor and glory and blessing.'

"And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard, saying,

"'To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.'

"And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped."

Introduction

Easter, of all the days of the year, should be a time of praise to Jesus Christ for His mighty victory over sin and death for you and me. [Perhaps in a sense it is 'always Easter in heaven,' for praise to the Lamb that was slain is going on there even now.] The magnificent hymn that they sing is recorded here in our text by St. John. It is: "Worthy is the Lamb!"

[I am certain that heaven's melodies and harmonies will be beyond what we can imagine here. But until we get to heaven that final chorus of Handel's Messiah will do!]

From this hymn of praise comes the Easter message for us on this Resurrection Day. We do not have to wait until we get to heaven to join in giving praise to our Risen Lord!

In this passage John tells us of a mysterious book, and of a mighty Lamb, and of a magnificent song.

I. THE BOOK THAT WAS SEALED

[Much of Revelation is very difficult to understand and impossible to interpret to the satisfaction of others. and yet] In this waking vision John describes in Revelation, much of the imagery is only thinly veiled, and not too hard to understand.

Here AN UNOPENED BOOK CAUSES JOHN TO WEEP. There are things that we cannot understand; and things that cause us concern because we must remain in the dark about them.

God has a number of "books" that he keeps; some are open, some are closed, some are partially closed. God has an open Bible that tells us of His love and grace. God keeps records of all the deeds of personal human history. God writes the names of His redeemed in a Book of Life.

But there are SOME "BOOKS" THAT BRING US TO TEARS:

THE BOOK OF 'UNFAIR LIFE!': The sorrow of unresolved inequities. "Life just isn't fair!" When nothing which we can see or understand brings life back into balance. When we weep because that book of God's justice seems closed.

THE BOOK OF 'IMPENDING DOOM!': The sorrow of an unknown and often fearful future. It is frightening to contemplate the future, at least the future apart from an all-wise Guide. It is an act of faith to bring children into the world just now. It is not frightening only when we are sure of our Guide.

THE BOOK OF DESTINY: The sorrow of an uncertain salvation. An extension of fear of the future is dread of eternity without light and life. As long as we can keep the music playing, and the talk shows talking, we can drown out this existential fear. But at night, when we are alone, when the silence bears in we think of the unopened and unopenable book of God's knowledge of eternity and we are afraid.

[AND NO DOUBT THERE ARE MANY OTHER BOOKS!] "What is LIFE all about? WHY am I here? WHO am I? WHERE am I headed? The DREAD of nothingness!

John's sorrow is all mankind's sorrow. John weeps because no one is found to open the book. Apart from the Lamb and apart from the song there is sorrow. And even the Bible itself is a sealed book until we find the key in Jesus! Jesus unlocks the Book!

But that is getting ahead of the story! We need to know that John's story does not end with weeping.

II. THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN

  1. "Weep not!" An elder lifts John's vision. And the waking vision gives us a strange mixture of figures here: "Behold the LION!" Lion, Lamb, Root, Judah!

    Slain in innocence, in meekness , and in patience, now Christ is seen as mighty and powerful. He strikes terror to the hearts of His enemies while at the same time He brings comfort to His people. (Because Jesus is the Lion of Judah, of David means that this is no "spiritual resurrection"; Christ is One with us!)

  2. One feature of the Lamb stands out above the others: It has been slain! At the very Throne, identified with God Himself, yet it bears the marks of having died! The heart of Easter truth is very, very near just at this point!
  3. The Lamb— identified with US, and yet having the seven eyes and seven horns of the sevenfold Spirit of God— is able to open the book that caused John to weep, the sealed book!

    And when Jesus vindicates righteousness! when He opens the books! there will be rejoicing in heaven!

III. THE SONG THAT WAS SUNG

There was a song sung that day in the vision as the books were opened! Indeed, that song is being sung today! And it will always be sung!

  1. The song is BEGUN by the redeemed (verse 9.) The new song is a song of redemption. And while the angels are very quick to join in praise, they do not have part in the very first chorus, for the heart of Easter singing is about redemption.

    The heart of Easter's song is NOT about the return of springtime, or the eternal conservation of life, or the beauty of flowers and bird song. The heart of Easter is the fact of bloody battle and stunning victory, of alienated mankind brought into fellowship with a holy God, and at the very foot of the throne of God becoming a great family that includes every tongue, people, and nation (verse 9.)

  2. The song praises the Lamb and is picked up by the heavenly choruses, because He alone is worthy to open the sealed book. Jesus Christ is our key to the mysteries of faith— death and eternity and salvation and redemption.
  3. The song is actually begun before the books are opened. We can begin to praise Jesus here and now; even before we know what is going to happen 'out there in the future,' we know Jesus! We know it will be all right if we are with Him!
  4. And we can begin now, joining in the myriads around the throne as we sing: "Crown Him . . . the Lamb upon the throne!"

Conclusion

But before we sing a hymn of praise to Jesus Christ, what SEALED BOOKS are causing YOU sorrow today?

IS THERE AGONY IN YOUR LIFE? Is the Bible a sealed book to you? Do you have deep concern about death and the future?

The word John heard is the word to us all:

"Weep NOT!" [Faith in God, and Christ's love is not an "instant fix" for all life's problems. But our Savior HAS DEFEATED SIN, DEATH, and HELL! With HIM we are on the winning side!]

The message of Easter is: The Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed!