“And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to Him that sat on the Throne, Who lives forever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the Throne and worship Him that lives forever and ever and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying ‘You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power—for You have created all things and for Your pleasure they are and were created’.”
Revelation 4:9-11
When we see Him “high and lifted up” (Is. 6:1-4), all we want to do is fall down on our faces before Him and whisper, “Thank You, Lord.”
As you read John’s words in Rev. 4, what thoughts and feelings cross your mind? If you’d been John, what would have been your reaction when that Voice said “Come up here and I will show you things which must be hereafter” (v.1) and suddenly you saw what he saw?
Most likely an overwhelming sense of His greatness and your sinfulness. That’s what happened to Isaiah that day (Is. 6:5). And, that’s what still happens today when we’re “still and know that He is God” (Ps. 46:10).
Even now as we read John’s words of the “Throne that was set in Heaven” (v.2) and his attempt to describe what he saw (vv.3-11), all we can do is what the 24 elders did and “fall down and worship Him, cast down our crowns and whisper, ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord’.”
All those who’ve ever visited some of the great cathedrals in Europe know that sense of hushed awe that comes over you when you enter those cavernous rooms with their high, arched ceilings, exposed beams and beautiful, stained glass windows. Their very design lends itself to worship, causing you to whisper or, more often than not, to sit quietly and say nothing as the sunlight filters it ways through the windows, making the brilliant hues of color come alive.
Suddenly, you’re no longer a tourist visiting a hundreds-of-years-old “faith fortress;” you’re somehow transported back in time when hushed, holy reverence in worship was the norm, not the exception. Assuredly, then, like now, there were many who darkened those doors whose worship was a sham—full of pomp and circumstance, not penitent contrition.
But, true worship is not dependent upon another’s spiritual condition.
It’s dependent upon ours. And, that’s why we must “worship Him in spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:23-24) if we are to worship Him at all.
And, that’s where today’s Manna comes in.
In this day-and-age of helter-skelter living. . .where deadlines and harried schedules leave us frazzled, frantic or furious. . .there’s still the need for quiet “solitude of soul” that can only be nurtured by silence and contemplative meditation.
That’s why Isaiah said “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength” (Is. 30:15b). He knew sheep need and prefer “still waters” from which to drink (Ps. 23:2b), not raging rivers. Therefore, we’d do well even right now to close our eyes, begin slowly breathing and calm our hearts and minds as we hear His Spirit whispering, “Shhh. Be still and worship.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated August 16, 2010
