From Every Tribe

 ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁹ And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign^[b] on the earth.”

So,  the language of this prophecy is partly symbolic.  I am sure we can agree on that.  But we should never forget that it is evocative and sensual.

Sometimes unsettling. The Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes.  Not the pastoral and comforting picture we like to imagine. But when we reduce the Lamb to our preconceptions and preferences we miss out on much of the essence of him. There is far more to him than we have even begun to understand. 

The seven horns and eyes represent his omniscience and omnipotence.  I am pretty sure that is their purpose. 

And this all powerful hero takes the scroll. 

Don't forget the weeping beforehand that none was worthy. 

But he has taken it. 

And the creatures and Elders,  with worship in one hand and intercessions of the saints in the other,  fall before the Lamb.  They get it. 

They get it big time. 

And they sing a 'new song'. 

This song has never been sung before.  

Why?

Why were the scrolls concerning the future left unopened until now? 

Did the whole of heaven marvel and wonder at the seemingly unknowable fate of the earth and it's people's? 

Maybe. 

Until now. 

Now one who is worthy has taken the scroll. 

And heaven feels like rejoicing.  With a brand new song! 

The lyrics?  You are worthy. So worthy. Worthy to open and unlock the future.  You are the key.  You are the seal breaker. 

Why is the lamb worthy? 

Because he was slain.  And because with his precious blood he purchased for God (note the past tense.  It's a done deal for those he saves) persons from Every tribe and language. 

There is no discrimination of background.  Whoever you are,  what ever you have done, it doesn't matter.  He has purchased you. There was nothing you could have done to earn it and you could never have paid the price. You could not have even chose him unless he called you first. But He first loved you,  and so now you are free to love him.

He has taken people from every tribe and tongue,  from every nation,  and made them a nation together. 

We who are Christ's are one people, regardless of skin colour,  genes or social background.  We are one,  and we are loved. 

Our Kingdom on earth may not be united.  People of different backgrounds may be at odds with each other. Their may be division and even hatred. 

But not so God's people.  We are all his,  and we belong to one another. 

Hallelujah. 

And in this Kingdom we are not idle subjects,  passively paying taxes and surviving. 

No. 

We are invested.  We have a part to play and a role to fulfil.

We do not serve an indifferent, faceless master. 

But all of us are priests  with a mission to serve our God. Our loving heavenly Father and our gracious saviour. 

And,  as Jesus said the first will be last and the last will be first, so as we are servants of our God,  we are to reign on the earth. 

How cool is that?! 

I think it is worthy of singing a new song. 

Worthy is the Lamb. 

Amen and amen.