Revelation 4 | See, Behold, and Praise Him | Dr. Brian Lee

It's a joy to be with you tonight, and, you may be just as surprised as I am to be, to see me standing up in front of the pulpit on this Friday night bible study. Pastor Daniel Batarse and, pastor Bena, asked me to serve the Lord in this way tonight. And so I'm grateful. It's a joy to serve the Lord tonight in this way. I'm honored and humbled to stand here in their place tonight.

I'm also reminded that, we're not called to fear man. We're called to fear the Lord. Psalm two says, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in trembling. And, yes, Psalm two, I believe, is addressed to the kings and rulers of the earth. But if we place our trust in ourselves or fear man rather than fear the Lord, we are essentially kings and rulers of our own hearts.

So it is our desire tonight to serve the Lord with fear together, to rejoice with trembling in his presence together. We have his word, and we have the Holy Spirit with us to guide us. And so before we go on any further, let's pray and ask the lord to to guide us and strengthen us tonight. Gracious lord, we do give you all honor and glory and thanksgiving tonight. Thank you for gathering us in this place in your house.

And father, we lift up our voices to you as we just did. We lift up our thoughts and our hearts, our affections to you. We ask for your holy spirit. Would he help and guide us and fill us? Help us honor Christ and exalt his name.

Help us honor his word and honor you alone. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. If you've been with us on Friday nights these past several weeks and really months, you know that we've been in the Old Testament and specifically in second Samuel, which we're nearing the end of and also the powerful studies in Malachi that pastor Ben has led us in. Tonight, we're going to the New Testament, different than our typical Friday nights together, although we've been in the gospel of Mark on Sundays.

But this Friday, we will primarily be in the New Testament. And in doing so, there's one specific book and chapter. We're gonna turn to Revelation chapter four. That will be our focus. But not just that, we're we're going to look at it in the context of something we do regularly here at this church.

In fact, we just did it. We do it every time we meet, and it's such a joy to do that each time, and that is to praise and to lift up our voices. It could be through prayers, but also in our singing, lifting up our voices in praise and worship. And, of course, we're not the only church that does this, pray, praises and singing. You'd be hard pressed to find any church, where people gather together and not praise through song or other ways.

God's people have always been a singing people that praises God since biblical times. The Bible, in fact, tells us in Job 38 that when God laid the foundations of the earth, the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Creation and angels sang and praised the creator from the beginning. But the bible also tells us we just sang about it. I was so blessed by the songs that we sang, tonight.

The bible also tells us that singing and praise will go on into eternity. We sing a song here from time to time, I think just recently last week, that proclaims this truth. It's a song called I stand amazed in the presence. And the last verse goes like this. When with the ransomed in glory, his face I at last shall see.

It will be my joy through the ages, through this age, through the millennial age, through the eternal age. It will be my joy through the ages to sing, to praise of his love for me. And do you remember how the chorus goes? It's a praise. How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be, forever be.

How marvelous, how wonderful is my savior's love for me. And this is a truth from God's word in many places, but let's look at just one before we get to Revelation chapter four. So turn with me to Isaiah 51, if you would. Isaiah chapter 51, and we're gonna start in verse three. And Isaiah throughout and, of course, Ezekiel and some of, many of the major prophets and minor prophets talk about not just a past reality, but a future reality in the age or ages to come.

So Isaiah 51 verse three, it says, for the Lord comforts Zion. He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her. Thanksgiving remember that word Thanksgiving for later in this study Thanksgiving and the voice of song. Now scroll down to verse 11.

Verse 11 says, And the ransomed of the Lord. We just heard that in a song text. The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing. Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

That should stir our hearts and fill us with joy because that is our future reality, in Christ. Anytime we sing together, especially when the lyrics communicate, praising him into eternity like we did tonight, re I'm reminded that it is a picture of us praising and singing in the ages to come. We are in a worship practice or rehearsal, if you if you will, together, for what will be eternal singing before the throne. Rehearsing for singing praises to the Lord with everlasting joy upon our heads. Going to Zion with singing forever and ever.

And I don't know about you, sometimes I lose sight of that because we feel like, you know, one particular day or our weekly lives are disconnected from that reality. We get distracted or busy. But anytime we worship, we should remind ourselves we are connected to that continuum. When Christ will come back and reign on earth, we will worship, before the throne. So Isaiah is a book that has many references to that, but as I mentioned, our our focal point is Revelation four.

So let's turn back to Revelation four, if you would. Alright. Are you ready? Revelation chapter four. We'll look at verse one.

It says, after this, I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this. So the first words of this chapter are, after this I looked and behold. Alright. So I I think the first question we need to ask is after what?

What is this after? Well, we know from Revelation chapter one that John is given instructions to write down in a book what he sees in this vision and send it to the seven churches. He then sees Christ who is described with hairs on his head that are like wool, like snow, flaming eyes of fire, feet like burnished bronze. It's similar to what we read about in, the book of Daniel when, Daniel sees Christ as the ancient of days in Daniel chapter seven. Then in Revelation two and three, what do we have?

Would someone, I know this is supposed to be a little more interactive on Friday nights, but, Revelation two and three, what do we have in summary? Letters to the churches. Right. So the seven letters to the churches we have. And so let's turn back a few pages back from chapter four.

Look at chapter two and three and turn there and look at two recurring phrases with me. We will begin with how each letter begins. Now my Bible has headings with the names of each church which is helpful to find it, but let's try to track it together. So Revelation two, look at the first letter to the first church in Ephesus. It says, the words.

The words of him who holds the seven stars. Then the church in Smyrna, the words of the first and last who died and came to life. Then the next one, the words of him who has the sharp two edged sword. That's for Pergamum. And then for the church in Thyatira, the words of the Son of God.

Then in chapter three in Sardis, for the church in Sardis, the words of him. Then I love this one for the church of Philadelphia, the words of the holy one, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. And then the seventh church to Laodicea, the words of the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. So it's obvious to observe here, right, that the emphasis is on the word, the words of Christ, the word of God for each of these churches. Now scroll back.

We're gonna now look at the very end of each letter. In chapter two verse seven, we see this recurring truth at the end of each letter to the church. Verse seven of chapter two says, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. So every single letter ends with that. He who has an ear, let him hear.

Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. And then every single letter begins with the word, the words of him, the words of Christ. That is what preceded the after that John writes at the beginning of chapter four. After this, I looked and behold. And and before we dive into chapter four, I believe the main lesson here for us is that we cannot truly look.

We cannot truly look and behold and see Christ for who he is, the fullness of Christ without his word. The words of him, without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us and filling us continually, without having an ear to hear his spirit. If we do not invest our time, our affections, our joys in this life to a fellowship and intimacy with Christ through his word and prayer asking the heavenly father for the gift of the holy spirit that Jesus speaks of in Luke eleven thirteen. That Paul writes about to be filled with the spirit continually in Ephesians five. We cannot truly look and behold Christ.

The Greek word, I believe, for behold here is that, we perceive, to perceive, to pay attention, to be attentive, and behold him. And, you know, we have many people today, many Christians even, people with PhDs, in Bible theology, ministry leaders, seminary degrees, speakers, even pastors, worship leaders who do not truly see and perceive or behold Christ because they do not abide to the words of him. It's, perhaps selected words of him or not the full counsel of God. And it's also their own words or the words of the world mixed in and added with the words of him in this book, which actually, the book of Revelation warns us about. And God is not honored.

Christ cannot be honored without the purity of his word, the sufficiency of his word, submission to his eternal word alone. And it's the same for you and me every day. We must stay close to the words of the alpha and omega to truly see him and truly behold him. He who has an ear, let him hear. And we know Christ also said these words when he walked on earth, which we read about in the gospel accounts and here we see it in Revelation.

This word to hear in the Old Testament is the Hebrew word Shema. Actually, can we all say this together, the word Shema? Shema. And I know Pastor Daniel sometimes says he has to check with Pastor Bena. Is that okay, Shema?

Shema. This word appears over 1,100 times in the Old Testament. That should tell us something, the word Shema. It means to hear, to listen. It also means to obey, which makes sense because when we tell our kids as parents, listen to your parents, we're essentially saying to obey.

It's also used as a musical term. And I love the fact that we sang Psalm one fifty because I believe that that word is found in Psalm one fifty as a musical term to sound loudly or to praise loudly. The term with me to the Old Testament again, Deuteronomy six. It's a well known passage, So let's take a moment to look at that. He who has an ear, let him hear.

Let's turn to Deuteronomy six, and we're gonna start in verse four or just look at verse four for now. And many of us know this passage already. It says, hear, Shema, o Israel, the Lord your God is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. But even in this same passage, take a look at the next verse.

We see hearing God in conjunction with the word of God. You cannot separate the two. The next verse says, God says, And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise. So we always go back to his word.

We always ask the Holy Spirit to give us ears to hear. May we shema, listen, obey his commands, his word to the Spirit's leading so that we can see and behold Christ in all his glory. So let's go back to Revelation four. So back to verse one. And so we looked at how it began.

After this, I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, come up here and I will show you what must take place after this. Alright. So here's a question. Who is the first voice speaking like a trumpet that John heard here?

Is it an angel? And we have angels speaking in Revelation. Or is it Jesus himself? How many of you would say it's an angel? K.

How many of you would say it's Jesus? Alright. In Revelation one verse 10, this is when John sees or hears this voice. I was John says, I was in the spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. And then it goes on that he looks and sees the lampstands.

In the midst of the lampstand, he sees or hears the voice, one like a son of man. And then we hear see the majestic descriptions of Christ that we talked about earlier. So I believe this is the voice of Jesus. Scripture interprets scripture. And look what it says.

The first voice which I heard speaking to me, the first voice, Is the first voice in your life and mine that speaks to us the voice of Jesus? Is he the first voice or first person you go to? Or is it a friend, a parent, a grandparent, even with strong family ties or traditions? Or is it your spouse? Is it a well known author or speaker, even a pastor?

And, of course, God can use all those people for his purposes to give us good counsel and encouragement, especially if their counsel is rooted in the word. But if the first voice in our lives is not his word, not Christ himself, if it is not the clear and ringing trumpet like voice of Jesus, we may miss out. We will miss out on what his will is for us. I don't remember which meaning it was, but somewhat recently, we were reminded here in this place that our first response, our first voice to any challenge or trial is often our own voice. How do I fix this?

What plans do I need to make now? Rather than our first response or first reflex to any challenge or trial, let alone any blessing, our first response, to go to the lord in prayer and seeking the alpha voice of Jesus through prayer and through his word. And so he invites us to be close to him. We see that in Revelation four one. Jesus, the first voice tells John, come up here.

Come to me. And, of course, when we hear those three words, come to me, perhaps it reminds us of when Jesus said, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest from Matthew 11. When He is our first voice, Jesus says, come to me, and I will give you rest. I will show you. He can show us clarity on what His will is for anything in our lives.

And I wonder, in Revelation four verse one, it says, after this I looked and behold a door standing open, a door standing. Yes. I it very likely is a literal door. Perhaps John saw a literal door standing open in heaven, but could it be another revelation of Jesus Christ who says in John chapter 10, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

And we are told in the next chapter in Revelation five that the slain Lamb of God is actually standing. The slain Lamb of God is standing. So this first voice is Jesus. We are called to look and behold him. Alright.

Let's go on to the next verse. Revelation four verse two. At once, I was in the spirit, and behold, there's that word again, behold, a throne stood in heaven with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. This is not the first time in scripture we see this type of language of jasper and emerald.

We don't have to turn there, but in Exodus, when God has given instructions to Moses and the people about how to construct the tabernacle with very specific instructions and measurements, and we know the word of God is very specific. Is it not for our instruction? But in Exodus chapter 28, we see God's instructions for priestly garments. And there are specific commands by God for Aaron and his sons as priests for something called the breastplate of judgment, where there shall be four rows of stones, and the second row contains emerald among other stones. And the fourth row contains jasper among other stones.

And here we have in Revelation four a picture of the heavenly throne room where it says that he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. Not a breastplate of judgment, but the one who is judge, the one who will come back to judge. And around the throne was something like an appearance of an emerald, Not a breastplate for Aaron or any other priest, but the one who the book of Hebrews tells us over and over again is our great high priest that is in heaven. And what about the rainbow around the throne? And we many of us know that this is not the first time in scripture we see a rainbow.

Of course, we think of Genesis nine, Noah, and God's covenant a sign of God's covenant with Noah and every living creature of all flesh. But would you turn quickly with me to Ezekiel chapter one? Let's take a look there briefly. Ezekiel chapter one, another vision of the heavenly throne room starting in verse 26. Ezekiel one twenty six.

And above the expanse over their heads, there was a like where there was the likeness of a throne in appearance like sapphire, and seated above the likeness of a throne was a likeness with a human appearance, similar to what John saw in Revelation one, appearance of a son of man. And there was brightness around him at the end of verse 27. There was brightness around him Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

We hear the voice, hear the first voice again. Here in this heavenly throne room in the vision of Ezekiel one, a brightness like a bow in the cloud, the day of rain, a rainbow. And we know what was meant to be a sign of a covenant between God and his people and all flesh, what shines bright around the one who sits on the throne. I think one of our lyrics tonight actually pointed to this rainbow, has been used in the wider culture and sadly even within the church today to represent something completely opposite to a holy God. It's used to represent sin, especially in this month of June we are in.

And it should cause us to grieve. It should cause us to pray. We were blessed this past Wednesday at the prayer meeting looking at first Timothy two to pray for all people, for kings, and for those in high positions who have authority to make decisions in the land. It should cause us to pray for change in the land. But it should also cause the saints to be immovable and joyful because the bow in the cloud around the one who sits on the throne will be so bright one day that later in Revelation, in Revelation 21, it says there is no need for the sun or moon to shine.

So, actually, can we turn there briefly? I it's it's such a glorious passage. Let's look at it together. This is Revelation 21 and verse 22. Revelation twenty one twenty two.

And I saw no temple in the city for its temple is the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb. And the city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. And its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations, but nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the lamb's book of life.

That is our future destiny. Whether you are in Christ or not, there is a time in human history where this is where it's headed towards, the judgment day, a judgment seat, the judgment seat of Christ. As I mentioned before, it is sometime it's easy to lose sight of this, that we are, in the distractions of life, the busyness of life in our day to day that, we are on this path to an eternal eternal eternity in the ages to come that revelation and so much of the Bible talks about, this continuum and this destiny of human history. History, it is his story, Christ's story, the alpha and omega. All roads lead to the lamb's book of life and those in Christ who are born again.

Those who repent and believe by looking and beholding Christ will be saved just like the people of God did with Moses in the wilderness when they looked and beheld the bronze serpent on a pole to be delivered from death. Do you often think about how our lives in Christ are connected to that future day when this brightness of his throne and the brightness around it will shine as the glory of God in which its light will the nations walk, and the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom. Do you remember Jesus' own words about this? You don't have to turn there, but Matthew 13 verse 40, Jesus talks about the weeds that are gathered and burned with fire at the end of the age. The son of man will send his angels.

And And it says, the law all causes of sin, all lawbreakers, throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And then the next verse gives us the hope that we are destined for in Christ. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their father. He who has ears, let him hear.

There we have those words again from Christ here in Matthew, as we did in Revelation two and three. Alright. Let's go back to Revelation four. Let's pick up where we left off. We are in verse four, and so we'll read the first, the next few verses together.

Revelation four verse four. Around the throne were 24 thrones, and seated on the thrones were 24 elders clothed in white garments with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder. And before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. And before the throne, there was as it were a sea of glass like crystal.

So we have more descriptions of our God and the heavenly throne room for us to see and behold. Okay. So question. When you read that from the throne came flashes of lightning, rumbles, peals of thunder, I mean, there may be other places, but what Old Testament location does that remind you of where we find similar language of lightning, rumbles, peals of thunder? Would anyone yes.

Yes. Mount Sinai. We see very similar language on Mount Sinai. Many of us know the story well. God delivered his people through Moses in the crossing of the Red Sea, yet the people still grumbled and complained.

And God's gracious hand leads to further miracles. We have this is an easy way to remember, I think, Mara and Manna. So the the bitter water turns sweet, Mara, and then, manna that God gave sweet, or bread, bread of heaven manna that is given. And then God gives them water from a rock in Exodus 17. And then it's Exodus 19, they arrive in the wilderness of Sinai.

And before God spoke the words of the 10 commandments in Exodus 20, we see in chapter 19 these words. So this is Exodus 19 verse 16. On the morning of the third day, there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast. So we have a trumpet here as well. So that all the people in the camp trembled.

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. So similar language, similar to Revelation four. But if you're there, scroll down a few verses later in verse 23 of Exodus 19. It says, Moses said to the Lord, the people cannot come up to Mount Sinai for you yourself warned us saying, set limits around the mountain and consecrate it. And the Lord said to him, go down and come up bringing Aaron with you.

I believe there are some parallels here beyond the the the peals of thunder and lightning. We see here a beautiful picture of Christ, the greater Moses who came down, word became flesh, died and rose and ascended, came up into heaven so that we can do the same. We can know God. And one day, we too will go up and be resurrected to be with him. We see in Revelation four verse one, when John saw God, beheld him, Jesus called with a trumpet like voice.

Jesus told John, come up here, and I will show you. Just like the Lord said to Moses to come up, bringing Aaron with you. Our God is a gracious and merciful God. That is who he is. That is part of his character.

But when we see God and look to his throne like Moses and the apostle John did, fix our eyes on the things above, we too can experience his grace and mercy in a much deeper way than if we did not see him and behold him. This holy God, the king of kings and lord of lords, which in first Timothy six says dwells in unapproachable light, He says to come up. Come to me, and I will show you. I will love you. I will protect you and provide for you.

I will forgive you. And we actually sang these words just a moment ago. He is our king, but he's also our friend, our brother, our bridegroom. What other god is there like this? This holy God lovingly invites us to come so that he can show us life, joy, security, eternal life to dwell with him forever and ever in his kingdom to come.

So I don't know. I know it might take a little bit of our imagine I don't know if imagination is the right word. I wanna say if we put our complete trust in the Lord like Moses and John did, we could perhaps have days. We could have Mount Sinai, Revelation four kinds of days, And I think we see shadows of this, right, glimpses of this. I and I know, many of many of us feel the same way anytime we worship together here in this place or come together on Sundays or any meetings.

It's a glimpse of heaven. We, because the presence of God is here, and his word is here, and our praises are here. And it's a shadow of Mount Sinai or Revelation four, and it's such a blessing. But I don't think we can have a bad day if we we look and behold the Lord and and and seek him. He calls us to have, his presence in our lives every day.

But it's not on our terms. It's on his terms. It's his word, his laws, his commands. And that's what God gave Moses and the people in the following chapter and the subsequent chapters. You know this if you know Exodus, but he gives laws concerning life, work, how to treat others, about worship including the dimensions of the tabernacle and priestly garments, which we looked at earlier.

And in the same way, when we look at Christ, behold Christ, look and behold his word that is sufficient for all of life, he lovingly gives us instructions about life, work, how to treat others, how to worship the Lord in this new covenant. And it should cause us to praise. It should cause us to have joy bubble over in praise. When we look and see him, when we behold him, we naturally praise him no matter what the circumstances around us are. We can't help but sing and praise God.

Alright. In Revelation four, back to Revelation four, in the middle of verse six. Let's go back to that text. Revelation six. I'm sorry.

Revelation four verse six. Around the throne, on each side of the throne are four living creatures full of eyes in front and behind. The first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night, they never cease to say, holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Praise God that we sang these very words earlier, tonight.

And we see the descriptions of these four living creatures, each one different from the other on each side of the throne. It's reminiscent of the four living creatures and their descriptions in Ezekiel chapter one. But this phrase day and night, what Psalm can you think of that uses this very language day and night? There are probably a number of them, but I'm thinking of one in particular, day and night. Okay.

It could be Psalm 16. Yes. Psalm one, which is why I said I'm thinking of one in particular. So that was kind of a hint. But I'm sure there are other Psalms like Psalm 16 and others that have that language.

But blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And on his law, he meditates day and night without ceasing, never ceasing to say. If we delight in meditating on his word day and night, we cannot help but continually praising and singing and worshiping him from this place to next as we go about our day. We see that here in Revelation four, a short, simple, yet powerful lyric of praise and verse of worship. And, while we are not told that this was a literal song where these four living creatures were singing these lyrics, there are other places in the book of Revelation where we are told people are singing.

We have title song title, song of Moses, song of the lamb. We have descriptions like a new song, which is for the 144,000, the remnant of Israel. But here, we don't have that, kind of language, but yet it's lyrical, it's poetic, and it's been set to music and and song for the saints, over over the ages. But we sang it tonight. Another one that comes to mind, of course, is the hymn, holy, holy, holy, lord god almighty.

Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty. God in three persons, blessed Trinity. And then the second verse of that hymn that we all are familiar with, I think connects more directly to Revelation four. Holy, holy, holy, all the saints adore thee, casting down their golden crowns around their glassy sea.

Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before thee, which word and art and evermore shall be, who was and is and is to come. There's also a song we sang recently. I think it was this past Sunday. It stayed with me this past week. It's called Good and Gracious King.

The first line says, I approach the throne of glory, fitting for the text we're in Revelation four, to look and behold the throne of glory. And the chorus is, you deserve the greater glory. Overcome, I lift my voice. To the king in need of nothing, empty handed, I rejoice joy and praise. But there's a bridge or alternate chorus that goes, and in fact, maybe we can sing it together, actually.

It it says the words holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. And so, join in if you can. It goes, holy, holy, Lord Almighty. Good and gracious. Good and great.

One more time. Holy, holy, Lord, almighty, good and gracious, good. Beautiful. Yeah. Anytime we sing this song or the songs we sing tonight, especially with the words holy, holy, holy, to talk about a holy God who sits on his throne, it blesses me.

I I know it blesses you as well. It blesses us, encourages us that we are, well, a, we're singing the scriptures back to the Lord. That should bless us. But we're joining in this heavenly worship that the four living creatures that Ezekiel saw in, his vision. We're joining in heavenly worship, and we will do that, in eternity.

But have you ever been curious as to why why is the word holy repeated three times? Holy, holy, holy. Any thoughts, or insights into that? I I ask that without really knowing the answer myself, but there are possibilities. Yeah, Scott.

Okay. Okay. So a distinction between creation, and our fallen world with a holy God. Yeah. Alright.

Wonderful. Scott? Yeah. I've heard that one as well, to attribute holiness to each person of the of of one God. So, God the Father, you are holy.

Christ the Son, you are holy. Yeah. So, Trinitarian. Any other thoughts? There's there was one other, common possibility.

It's actually right there in the text. Yes. Yeah. I love that. That's it's well, we know this from scripture.

Anything that's repeated, there's a reason for it. There's a an emphasis like, our brother just said. So holy, holy, holy, the emphasis of God's holiness. But take a look at, I mean, that very passage. It says, who was and is and is to come.

So there's another threefold pattern there. Three holies, who was and is and is to come. Who was, who has come before, he has met us before. Who is to come, future, he is coming again. Who is now, Lord.

Come, Lord Jesus. And does anyone know the word in the New Testament, which I think the original word is Aramaic? I don't know how many similarities are there are between Aramaic and Arabic, but it appears at the end of first Corinthians where it says, come, Lord Jesus. What is that word? Maranatha, it's the name of our church.

Come, Lord Jesus. It's the name of our conference. Maybe this is a good time to remind people to register for the conference. But Maranatha, come, Lord Jesus, or our Lord, come. And it's a good word that connects to this line of praise.

Holy, holy, holy, lord god almighty, who was and is and is to come. My understanding of the word maranatha, it is also a threefold meaning. In other words, depending on the context of how it's used, depending on how it's pronounced even perhaps, it it does mean, yes, come, Lord Jesus, now we need you. But it also means, Lord, you have come before in the past. We know that, of course, with Christ who came two thousand years ago and has come since creation.

But even in our own personal testimonies, when Christ came into our lives, he came before, and, we give him praise and honor for that. But, lord, you are coming again, Maranatha. So my understanding is that word connects to this phrase, who was and is and is to come. Maranatha. So it's a beautiful word.

And in that well known passage in Isaiah six, which begins, in the ear King Uzziah died, I saw and beheld the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up. We have the three holies again. I'll just read it here. Like John, like Moses, Isaiah looked and saw the Lord. And we have these words of praise.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. And so anytime you see the word holy up on the screen when we worship together or even in your private devotion, I hope, I know it blesses us, but I hope there's also a a conscious awareness that we are not only attributing, to our God that he is holy, but we're also reminding us because songs do teach and remind us and warn us, like the song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32. It calls us to live lives of holiness, to be holy, by, the power of of God and his spirit and through Christ. But it should bless us that this is heavenly worship before the heavenly throne room when we sing the word holy.

Alright. Shall we finish Revelation four together? So let's look at verse nine, and, we'll go to the end here. Whenever the living this is Revelation four verse nine. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks.

We have another three pattern here. Glory, honor, and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever. The 24 elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne saying, worthy are you, our lord and god, to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things. And by your will, they existed and were created.

We're reminded here twice that the one who is seated on the throne lives forever and ever. He will reign forevermore. There's much to say about this closing section in Revelation, include in Revelation four, including who the 24 elders are, what it means that they cast their crowns before the throne. But, for our purposes in our in our short time remaining here, I, would like for us to highlight a part of the text. Yes.

We see this threefold pattern. The living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated under the throne. Glory, honor, thanks. And I'd like for us to highlight the last one of that, of the three. When we sing praises to God, we give him glory.

Yes. We often think of that. We desire to give him honor. Yes. We often think of that.

But we also give him thanksgiving when we praise him, whether in our prayers and our singing. I think, generally, thanksgiving is underrated, maybe underemphasized aspect of our praise and worship at times. And, there are numerous passages we can turn to, but just gonna highlight a few here in the context of praise. We saw one earlier in Isaiah 51, where the ransom of the Lord will return and come to Zion. Joy and gladness will be found in her thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Thanksgiving will go on forever in our praise and singing as the ransomed of the Lord in Zion. And then there's Ephesians five eighteen, that, passage that many of us are familiar with, where it says to sing or it actually says to address one another. Actually, before that, do not be drunk with wine for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit. There's the Holy Spirit again addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart. And often that is where our memory ends with that passage, but we can't forget the next part.

Giving thanks always. So giving thanks always is connected to our singing, to our praising, to the Lord. The sister passage in Colossians three sixteen, let the word of Christ, there's the word again, dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Give you a couple more in the Psalms. This is an easy reference to remember.

Psalm 100. 100. It says that this Psalm is a Psalm for giving thanks. And in verse four of Psalm 100, enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him.

Bless his name. The last reference, Psalm one twenty two. Psalm one and twenty two says it begins this way. I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. I sometimes think of that verse every time I come here to remind myself.

I I mean, I'm often glad and happy to come here, but sometimes I I I yes. I am happy because I'm coming to the house of the Lord. Our feet have been standing within your gates, oh, Jerusalem. Jerusalem built as a city that is bound firmly together, to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. And here it is.

As was decreed for Israel, it was decreed for Israel to give thanks to the name of the Lord. It was decreed for Israel, God's people, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. So here's the last question of the evening, I hope. Last question of the evening. Does anyone know where in the Old Testament that this decree to God's people, to Israel, to give thanks in the house of the Lord, does anyone know that it was decreed?

Okay. Here's a hint. It connects to the book that we've been studying on Friday nights, second Samuel. So, yes, it's connected to, the life of David, but it's not I don't think it's in second Samuel, but it's in another book which recounts the life of David. It is in the chronicles.

Yeah. So this is the last place we will turn tonight. First chronicles chapter 16, if you would turn there. If I understand it correctly, I think this is about the time where we looked in earlier in second Samuel where the ark is, put on a new cart, and then we know all that happened with Uzzah and remember that study, I hope. And then for three months, it's put into another home.

God blesses that household, and then David comes to his senses and they carry the ark like like God commanded. Right? And so I think it's about that same time or shortly after. So here's first Chronicles 16, the last place we will turn for tonight's study. Verse one.

And they brought in the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. Now go down to verse four. Verse four. Then David appointed some of the Levites as ministers before the ark of the Lord to invoke, to thank, and to praise.

Another three pattern here. The Lord to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. To invoke, to think, to remind, to remember, to be mindful of Him, to thank the Lord, and to praise the Lord. But then now scroll further down. We're gonna go to verse six.

Benaiah and Jahaziel, the priests, were to blow trumpets, trumpets again, to blow trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. And then here it is, verse seven. Then on that day, David first appointed that thanksgiving thanksgiving be sung to the lord by Asaph and his brothers. And, I I would just and you can follow along, of course. I'd just like to read the next few verses here.

We're given the lyrics of this song of thanksgiving. Oh, give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him.

Sing praises to him. Tell of all his wondrous works. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and his strength.

Seek his presence continually without ceasing, never ceasing to praise him. I'll end with this. I saw a brother in the Lord recently. I knew him from college. We were fellow music majors in piano in our college years.

I actually have the joy of teaching his daughter at Moody. She's a piano student of mine now. But this dear brother recently reached out and invited me to, attend a devotional worship he was leading at, at the ministry that he leads. And, he led in a devotional and praise at the piano from the piano. He said something so simple yet powerful that has stayed with me for weeks, and I wanna share that with you as we close.

He said and, blessed us with these words, the secret to life is staying close to the Lord and him staying close to you. I know that sounds so simple, and yet it's packed with deep deep truths that we find in the word of God. Do you remember how the book of Revelation opens? Revelation one one? The revelation of Jesus Christ.

If to you, which he so graciously and lovingly wants to do for you and me, he invites us to see him, to behold him, to come to him like the father does in the parable of the prodigal son. May we stay close to him, stay close to his word, the words of him, stay close to him through prayer, to listen, to obey, to Shema, the Spirit of God. Stay close to him in your thoughts that we may behold him, to be attentive to him, and to praise him. Stay close to him as you praise him in private, in public when we meet together, which it is always such a joy to do, and may we do so with thanksgiving. He is holy.

He is worthy. Let us pray. Father god, we do give you all glory and honor and thanksgiving. Father, thank you for your word. In your mercy and grace and your love, you revealed to us who you are.

You've given us instructions for all of life. Your word is true. It is sufficient. It is from you, and it is our desire to honor it. We pray that it was honored tonight, Lord.

And we ask that as we leave this place, that it would be honored in our lives wherever you send us, whatever you whatever you've called us to. May we honor you. May we honor your word, for you are holy. You are three times holy, oh lord, and you are worthy to receive all honor and glory and praise. And we do praise you now.

We love you. We thank you. In Jesus' name, amen.