by Kevin Lorow, Cuyahoga Valley Church Worship Arts Assistant
“Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave, He is David’s root
and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? Of all blessing and honor and glory? Is He worthy of this?
He is!”
We hope you all enjoyed this declaration on Sunday as much as we did!
The style of this song is very different than many that we use here at CVC, with a call and answer for its verses. But the lyrical imagery given to us in the chorus is astoundingly beautiful. These lyrics are drawn out of Revelation of all places. A really rare book for worship songs to be connected to, as this book is considered to be “apocalyptic prophesy”. The language is stunning and often a little confusing to full comprehend. But consider the text this passage is drawn from in Revelation chapter 5
1-4 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I (John) saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it”
This passage is intense! You can feel the angst in John’s heart and the despair that is found. No one is able to open the seal! Hope is lost. The scroll is taken to be God’s act of redemption. There is no one capable of performing this. No one is able to do what is required to right our relationship with God and bring about the completion of the Father’s plan.
5-7 “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.”
The Lamb of God is there! No man or angel could be found, but the Lamb of God, the Son of God is worthy! He is worthy because He is God. He approaches the throne and takes the scroll.
8-14 “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, reach holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This is the end result. Jesus Christ alone is worthy to perform God’s act of redemption! This new song is one that has experienced this redemption and is a response of complete and total joy! The endgame of God’s redeeming work is endless worship and praise of His great and glorious name! The wonderful things is that we get to sing that song today! We don’t need to wait. We’ve tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and that His redemption is complete.
