Revelation 4:9 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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Revelation 4:9

Comments

The four living creatures lead the way in worshipping the Father. Whenever they worship God the twenty-four elders follow suit and therefore they too worship God night and day. This is the church of Old and the New Testament, saints gone by, saints in heaven, saints on earth – ‘the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne.’ ‘And they cast their crowns before the throne.’ It doesn’t mean they give them up; it means they acknowledge, ‘Yes, we share the reign of Christ. We have great privileges on earth. We have truth and the gospel and power from on high. But we yielded all to thee. It’s under thy direction. It’s under thy guidance, in thy hand. Three aspects of the worship of the living creatures are mentioned. They give glory and honour and thanks to God. We admire his intrinsic glory. We acknowledge that because of his great glory he is worthy to receive honour. We thank him for all that we have for his mindfulness of us is seen in every gift we receive. It is our debt to him. Of course we cannot really give anything to God, and our worship cannot add to God or increase his glory in any way. All the praise of his creatures is only the recognition of what he already has. He cannot become more perfect than he already is.

Application

The first thing in worship, the first personal act in worship, is self-humbling before the Lord, self-humbling before the Lord. Yield to him, submit to him, bow to him in your heart. Honour him, fall down before him. That is so vital. You cannot worship any other way. You don’t have to fall down physically, but you have to fall down in your soul, in your heart, or you can’t worship. ‘They fell down before him and worship him.

Worship will be the eternal occupation of heaven. It will be an occupation that fills our souls with joy, that leaves no room for any fear or shadow of disappointment. We will know deep in our hearts that our God is good, that he is love itself, that to praise him is our greatest possible occupation, that we will never tire of learning new wonders about him. We will find that the Lord totally satisfies our being. The human heart has a vast appetite for security, for future security, for a meaningful context in which to exist, for love: to be loved by one who has sufficient power to express that love. We are constitutionally children in need of a heavenly Father. We are made to need his affection and care. How could such dependent beings as we are, exist in isolation from him?

We cast our crowns before him. ‘When I switch jobs next’, we say to ourselves, ‘I shall not determine what I do on the basis of what I would like, or what would make the most money, or what would make me look best. I will seek the wisdom of God, a guiding hand from on high, and where he would desire to place me. I will be at his disposal in his hands. I’ll cast my crown before him.’

Questions

Why is it that worship so satisfies our being and is the greatest act that human nature can aspire to? Because it expresses our total confidence in God and certainty that he will not let us down. Because it focuses our minds on the one who has life in himself and not derived from any other, who is the source of all good, and who freely gives good gifts to his children. How blessed is that confidence in God that whatever happens God will lead us and provide for us. Sometimes that confidence cannot be reached without passing through great trials.

Outline

Purpose

Introduction

Revelation 4:9 Commentary and Bible Study