“… the song of the Lamb …”
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 mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages.
4 Who will not fear you, O 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.”
(Revelation 15:1-4; NIV. Please read Revelation 15-16.)
When the children of Israel saw the wrath of God come upon Egypt … they stood on the shores of the Red Sea and sang the song of Moses – a song of praise for their deliverance.
When the children of God see the wrath of God come upon their world … they will stand on the streets of glory and sing the song of the Lamb – a song of praise for their deliverance.
Let’s stand and sing!
ON SECOND THOUGHT: One of the fun things I used to do with my children was to just start singing – making up songs about God and good things He had done for us. They loved those songs and a verse or two themselves. Nothing we sang would have ever compared to the music or style of “big church” – but nothing I have ever sung in “big church” compared to the praise and pleasure of those songs. Try singing your own heart today … in the shower … in the car … all alone … or with the kids … just praise the Lord for your deliverance.
November 13, 2008 at 10:40 am
I was struck today by whose song they were singing … the song of Moses and the Lamb. God gives them harps and they begin to play this song of deliverance. Although Moses and the Lamb helped the people in different ways, there were similarities, and ultimately the same God that deserved praise for it all. I too have a song of deliverance to sing … one that is in my heart … and belongs only to me. I sing it with my life daily, but I like the idea of putting actual words to it, like you said.
There’s a song that comes into my head pretty often that I’ve been unable to place. I think it’s one I sort-of made up, but I’ve always been too embarrassed to sing it to anyone to see if it happens to be a real song. The words are … “I wanna be more like you Jesus, I wanna be more like you Jesus … I wanna _________ and then I just start filling in the blanks. It’s probably a song I heard somewhere that I just don’t remember the words to. But it pops into my head sometimes and it’s a good reminder of what I really want to do … be like Jesus.
I have to say I’m amazed by the men’s reaction to the fifth angel. They gnawed their tongues and cursed God, but would not repent. I can look at my life and see times where I blamed God for my hurting … never realizing He was calling me to repent. This has been very eye-opening for me. To picture these extreme situations that people were in … watching them continue to keep their backs to God, as I say in my head, “He’s right there waiting, just let Him help.” I realize I have done the exact same thing. May it never be again.
November 13, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I caught myself saying “All of that, and they won’t repent?? You still have a chance! Turn to God! NOW!” And like Snack, I recognize the times in my life when I had my back turned on God. Could be someone was shouting the same thing to me…”You still won’t repent? There’s still a chance! Don’t wait!!”
I have a song of deliverance. And it involves many words of thanks to God, amazement at His mercy and pure joy because of this second chance. Thank you Father!
November 15, 2008 at 3:32 pm
The part of that song that stood out to me the most was the part about his righteousness being revealed. We don’t serve a “mystical” sort of god who is vague and far away. He has made himself known to us because he desires all men to come to a knowledge of him. He is not particular about national origin, bank accounts, education, or our pasts. Our God has revealed himself in such a way that we can all know him. We just have to turn away from ourselves and take hold of what has been revealed to us. Thank you, Lord, for making yourself known to even the dimwits like myself, who need your loving patience!