Called to Worship
Isaiah had a vision of God sitting on His throne, He was high and lifted up and the hem of His robe filled the temple. Above the throne were six angels, with six wings who flew and cried out to each other. The angels cried out that the Lord is holy and the earth shows forth His glory. As they cried out, the foundations shook and Isaiah recognized his impurity. One of the angels flew towards Isaiah with a live coal from the altar. He touched his lips and cleansed him from sin and removed his guilt. During this vision Isaiah received his commission to be a prophet to Israel. Ezekiel also saw angels and God seated on a throne, before his commission as the watchman over Israel. “Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking” (Ezekiel 1:28).
John also had a vision of heaven in Revelation 4, where he saw a door open and voice called him to come up so he could be shown things to come. Immediately John was in the spirit and he saw the throne of God, with Him seated on the throne. “And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald” (Revelation 4:3). Around the throne were 24 other thrones and 24 elders were seated, clothed in white with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning and thunder and before the throne were seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God. Before the throne was what looked like a sea of glass and crystal. John also saw four creatures around the throne, full of eyes in front and behind.
The description of the creatures were similar to those who Isaiah saw in his vision. “And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8) When the angels cried out in glory, honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, the elders fall down before Him on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. As they cast their crowns before the throne they cried out, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created” (Revelation 4:11). These three sightings were prophetic encounters of God in his glory and splendor.
On each occasion the presence of God evoked worship and exaltation of His glory and his holiness. The angels never ceased crying out about the glory and the holiness of God. The elders fell prostrate before God and abandoned their crowns and symbols of glory. Their own glory paled in comparison to the glory of the omnipotent God. Isaiah recognized his state of uncleanness when he faced God, John responded with weeping and Ezekiel fell on his face when he heard the voice of God. Their automatic response was worship, adulation and awe at the majesty of God. The weight of his presence caused the spirit within them to yield in worship. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for his good pleasure. Worship is intimacy with God as an entrance into his presence. Worship from clean hands and a pure heart as we express our love, gratitude and adoration for him. We are created in his image and likeness and our being and existence speaks of the glory of God.
“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
Questions for Reflection:
1. What story from Scripture do you lean on when you want to learn more about worship?
2. What does worship mean to you? How do you best honor God with your praises?
