The Song of the Lamb

In September 2006, after writing the article Lift Up A Standard, A Standard of Praise! the Lord gave me an image that went with the phrase the Song of the Lamb. It was an image of a shepherd with outstretched arms, praying for the people of his congregation; a shepherd sheltering and caring for his flock. As the shepherd prayed, the rest of the body joined in support of his prayers (holding up his arms). These prayers took place during worship. The Lord impressed on my heart that if the Song of the Lamb was sung during this time, healing would occur.

The image of the shepherd is very similar to the image of Moses standing on top of a hill with outstretched arms holding the rod of God (Exodus 17:8-16). As long as Moses held up the rod in his outstretched hands, Israel prevailed in battle. When his hands were lowered the Amalekites prevailed. Moses' hands became heavy, so Aaron and Hur took a stone for him to sit on and helped hold up his hands. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set and the battle was won. Moses built an altar here and named it the Lord is my banner. It's also the image that will occur when the banner will be raised over Zion. The Messiah will stand as a banner for His people to signal them to gather together (Isaiah 11:10-12). Jesus is our standard; our rallying point for victory (Roman 8:37).

As Jesus is praised, we enter into His courts and presence (Psalm 100:2, 4). The Lord inhabits and is enthroned on our praises (Psalm 22:3). As we lift Him up as our banner, His light shines for all to see and hearts are drawn.

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself. (John 12:32)

The image of the shepherd praying for his flock during a time of worship was easy to connect with raising a banner, lifting the Lord Jesus high through praise so that He can draw hearts unto himself. This is also the image in my previous article. What I didn't quite see until recently was the role that the Song of the Lamb played in all of this. I wasn't even sure at that time what the phrase Song of the Lamb meant. The Song of the Lamb is mentioned in the following verses.

I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues-last, because with them God's wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages. Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened wide. (Revelation 15:1-5)

Notice that this song sings of a time when all nations will come and worship before the King. The place these nations will come is Zion, for Zion is the place where the Lord dwells, the city of God, the holy mountain. For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. He said, This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it- I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with bread. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall ever sing for joy. There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth; I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon Himself His crown shall shine. (Psalm 132:13-18)

In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Isaiah 2:2-3)

Zion is also the place that the Lamb stands with "the ones who follow wherever He leads."

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. These are those who did not defile themselves with women, for they kept themselves pure. They follow the Lamb wherever he goes. They were purchased from among men and offered as firstfruits to God and the Lamb. No lie was found in their mouths; they are blameless. (Revelation 14:1-5)

These that follow the Lamb wherever He goes, these that have kept themselves pure, these are the only ones who could learn and sing a new song before the throne. This adds a new dimension to the phrase the Song of the Lamb. The Song of the Lamb in Revelation 15 is a new song, a song that has never been sung before. It is a song that is put in the mouths of those accompanying the Lamb, those who are called chosen and faithful (Revelation 17:14). The chosen and faithful wait with patient longing for the LORD. It is the LORD who places their feet on the Rock; a firm place to stand. It's here on the Rock that the new song is given and sung for many to see and be drawn.

I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Those standing on Mount Zion with the Lamb, they are a picture of those who have been lifted by the hand of God out of the mud and mire. They have been lifted and placed on a Rock that is higher.

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings. (Psalm 61:1-4)

Look at David's cry, it's when his heart is faint and he is sinking low. His cry is lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Like us, David can not get to this higher Rock by himself, it's out of reach. It's only through God's divine intervention, by His mighty hand and the blood of the Lamb that we can be set upon this Rock. We can pursue the Lamb with all of our hearts, all of our strength, all of our will but there really is no way in our own strength that we can lift ourselves up to stand on top of Mount Zion with the Lamb. We need the Lord's hand to set us on the Rock and put a new song in our mouths.

Notice that in Revelation 15 the sea of glass was mixed with fire. These that follow the Lamb, they are willing to follow the Lamb into the raging seas, into the white water of turbulent rivers and the blazing furnace of affliction (heated 7 times hotter). They follow because they trust that He is with them and will keep them. They know that He can calm any storm (Mark 4:39) or bring them through any fire without even the smell of smoke (Daniel 3:27). So steadfast is their trust in the Lamb, in the Lord's hand. These are the ones the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth searching for to strengthen (2 Chronicles 16:9).

But now, this is what the LORD says- he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... (Isaiah 43:1-3)

These who follow the Lamb and have kept themselves pure, these are the ones who are lifted up by the Lord's hand and placed on the Rock. These are the only ones who can sing a new song, the Song of the Lamb. Look what happens after this new song, the Song of the Lamb is sung. The temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened wide (Revelation 15:5) revealing the King of ages. A similar thing happens in Isaiah 6:4 after worship, At the sound of their voices the doorposts moved and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. And again in Revelation 19:10 worship is linked with the testimony of Jesus opening, Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. How powerful, that our worship, the Song of the Lamb, the new song can create an opening revealing the King of ages! But where would healing fit with the Song of the Lamb?

Consider where Jesus heals a paralytic (Mark 2:1-12). Remember where the 4 friends actually make an opening in the roof to lower the paralytic into the presence of Jesus? Our worship can actually create an opening in heaven revealing the enthroned King, bringing others into His presence. Once in the presence of the King they can be touched by Him and made whole; sins can be forgiven and physical healing can occur (Mark 12:5, 12), hearts can be changed.

It's no coincidence that the sea of glass in revelation 15 where the Song of the Lamb is sung is before the King's throne (Revelation 4:6), the place where the King has chosen to dwell in Zion. It's here at the center of the throne where the Lamb stands, where the new song is sung enthroning the King on His people's praises (Revelation 5:6, 9-13), lifting Him as a banner for all to see and fear and be touched. Now the image of the Song of the Lamb being sung beneath outstretched arms with healing occurring makes more sense. Is it a coincidence that the image of outstretched arms look like outstretched wings?

Singing beneath the outstretched arms of the shepherd
Singing beneath His wings
Pure hearts who fear the LORD singing the Song of the Lamb
Singing a new song
AND
healing rising ...

This does make sense now!

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings. My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me. (Psalm 63:7-8)

...or you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. (Malachi 4:2)

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield. (Psalm 5:11-12)

You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth. That Your beloved may be delivered, save with Your right hand, and hear me. (Psalm 60:4-5)

The Song of the Lamb

Fear the Lord alone
Come bow before Him, fall at His feet in worship and praise --Revelation 4:10
Sing a new song, a song of the Lamb
A song of grace and redemption, a song of deliverance
A door opened for all to see --Isaiah 6:4
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. --Psalm 40:3
The King of the ages revealed.

Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. --Revelation 19:10

The tent of the testimony opened wide
See the King
Do only what you see the Father doing --John 5:19
Hear the testimony of Jesus
Speak only what you are given, sing a new song --Psalm 40:3
A song of the Lamb, following wherever He leads --Revelation 14:4
That Jesus may be lifted up
A banner, the light of the world, for all to see --John 12:32, Isaiah 11:10

That the nations will be drawn unto Him and His way be known.

Who will not fear You, O Lord, and bring glory to Your name?
For You alone are holy. --Revelation 15:4
Who will not come and bow down to worship before You, O Lord?
Let the nations be drawn singing for joy
Let the nations be glad.

Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You!
Then the earth will give her harvest [showing His favor] -God, our God, blesses us!
God blesses us, that they may fear Him to the ends of the earth. --Psalm 67:5-7

Voice of the Gospel Christian Radio - Radio Stimme des Evangeliums

Freitag, 22. Juni 2012

Zion is also the place that the Lamb stands with "the ones who follow wherever He leads."

The Song of the Lamb

Keine Kommentare:

Kommentar veröffentlichen