The New Song (Revelation 5)
by Tony Campbell
The Lamb has just taken the scroll from the One who is seated on the throne. His worth and qualification to open the scroll and break its seals has been recognised by all but something even more astounding happens! Now, as John watches, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders respond to the revelation of the worth of the Lamb with a song and they bow down before Him!
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.””
— Revelation 5:8-10
We have seen in Revelation 4 that the four living creatures, all covered with eyes worship Him who is seated on the throne day and night and declare Who He is: “Holy, holy, holy” (Rev4:8b). And the twenty-four elders respond to the revelation of Who He is by falling from their own thrones and casting their crowns before Him saying “Worthy are you, our Lord and God” (Rev4:11)
But now they are singing a new song. This is a very powerful picture of the divine nature of the Lamb because remember, this is the throne room of God! Only God is worshiped here. Only God is bowed to. We are being shown that while the Son is distinct from the Father (approaching and receiving the scroll from Him), He is also equal with the Father (in His presence receiving worship with Him). Let’s allow that to sink in.
And what is this new song about? The worth of Jesus through His work on the cross: “Worthy are you… for you were slain…” (Rev5:9-10). He was slain. Jesus really was slain. It is not simply His royal blood but His shed blood that gives Him the right to take the scroll and open its seals. By His blood He ransomed people for God. By His blood He ransomed me. By His blood, He ransomed you. Think about how inclusive, how encompassing the blood of Jesus is! Every tribe. Every language. Every people. Every nation. His redeeming blood will touch them all and just as He did in the beginning, He will separate and consecrate a new people from the peoples of the earth to be a kingdom of priests to God.
Let’s sing a new song of the wonder of the work of Jesus on the cross and the power of His blood! He is worthy.
When you stand before God’s presence in worship, what are you most likely to say about Him? What aspects of His nature are you most familiar with and which do you want to know more?
The bible often speaks of the "new song" and we’re taking this season to meditate on a few key passages. By singing His word, we can grow together in our understanding of who God is, why worship and prayer are important to Him, and how He will use houses of prayer and praying churches across the earth to see the fullness of His plans come to fruition.