Who is Worthy?

Was the unusual  proclamation heard in the book of Revelation, chapter five, verse 2. This scene in heaven was radically different from the one seen in chapter four, there they sang praises to God, 

 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.” 

But in chapter five we hear at the beginning, not a song of praise to God, but a loud voice proclaiming,

“Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” 

In one sense that is the cry heard through out the world today, who is worthy. Who can right the wrongs of society? Who can bring fairness and equity to the masses? Who can heal all diseases and sicknesses? Who can resolve all conflicts and disputes? Who can make us safe from natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and floods? Who can represent us who is wise, honest, strong and compassionate? 

These are cries of a people also looking for and seeking, who is worthy. The scene in heaven grows even more somber, when it is proclaimed,

“And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.”

No one in heaven nor on earth was found worthy? That is a striking reality and truth that reverberates throughout God’s creation. No one is worthy. 

There goes our confidence in our political leaders. There goes our confidence in science. There goes our confidence in all others. There goes our confidence in ourselves.

If the scene in heaven stopped there, all our hoping and seeking of one that is worthy would forever be hopeless and lost. And we would have to join in with John:

“Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it”

But thank God the scene in heaven doesn’t end there, for immediately upon John commencing his crying, he was abruptly interrupted and sternly told,

“Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.””

Upon which  the scene  in heaven radically changes from somber to cheerful:

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”

I trust you also have found Jesus the Christ, the Lamb of God worthy!!!

Eternity at a Glance

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

This quote is taken out of the fourth chapter of the book of Revelation. There John sees a picture of the sovereign God enthroned in heaven as the One who has created all things. 

And around the throne of God, John sees the highest order of God’s creation in heaven, represented by the four living creatures; and the highest order of God’s creation on earth, represented by the twenty-four elders.

This is a scene in eternity past of the harmony that once existed between God and His creation before either were corrupted by rebellion and sin. This harmony is exemplified by His creation praising Him for His holiness and for Him creating. 

The original state of God’s creation whether in heaven or on earth was perfect and good and in complete harmony with God’s holiness.

Man could be in the presence of God, walking and talking without fear of wrath or judgment. Perfect fellowship with God, perfect transparent conversations with God. Perfect perception of what God was saying. And perfect doing of what God said to do.

“Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it....Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.” Gen‬ ‭2:15, 19‬ 

So the Four Living Beings representing that which God created in heaven sing,  

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”

And the Twenty-Four elders representing  all God’s creation on earth before the fall, who though were not there at God’s original creation, but yet were there, present in the mind of God:

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love” Eph 1:4

So also, the Twenty-Four elders now representing God’s creation on earth sing, 

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Seeking & Finding a Sanctuary

“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.” Psalms‬ ‭63:1-2‬


We can easily become alarmed and frightened when we focus on the many things that are happening today. The constant broadcasting of the Coronavirus rather news worthy or not is creating a sprit of panic. And the places we seek for sanctuary and solitude like our churches, being not available, may make it all seem unbearable.

But really are sanctuary is with God that can never be taken away:

"Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; Who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared Your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah” Ps 77:13-15‬

The Scriptures before us is about David, whose spirit is low and in need of reviving on account of the distressing and alarming things pursuing him, but he can’t get to his normal place of sanctuary for prayer and worship of God.
In his cries to God, he discovers God is his sanctuary, and is there wherever he shelters in place: Seeking and finding a Sanctuary

Seeking a Sanctuary
“O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.” Psalms‬ ‭63:1-2
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Some believe this occurred during the life of David after he had been run out of his capital city Jerusalem by his son Absalon. Forced to dwell in the wilderness and in caves away from his palace and people he loved, but most importantly away from the sanctuary of God.

John Calvin stated on this psalm the following:
"He does more than simply pray; he sets the Lord before him as his God, that he may throw all his cares unhesitatingly upon him, deserted as he was of man, and a poor outcast in the waste and howling wilderness."

This is the state of the godly who momentarily is overtaken by fears within and without, but then He turns to God for help.

Finding a Sanctuary
Turning to God while longing for a sanctuary, he finds a sanctuary in God in the wilderness:

"So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory.”

A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, states: "The Psalmist thirsting in the wilderness wishes to be again near to God (ver. 1), as he was previously near Him in the sanctuary (ver. 2), and this longing is based upon the grace of God, which surpasses the dearest and most precious of all things, life"
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If God is your sanctuary in normal times, you will find in Him also to be your sanctuary in the bad times.