“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Not after, but during the worship of the four living creatures and the twenty four elders, John’s attention shifted to another host of worshippers, angels. When John writes “numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” it is not to give us an exact number. He is saying there was a huge amount, too big to count.
Notice that this innumerable amount of angels were singing “In a loud voice.” It does not say they were lifting up their voices, but that they sang with a single voice. They were all united in the purpose and voice of their song, they all were praising the Lamb of God. As with the four living creatures, twenty-four elders, and the host of angels, all who love God, when our eyes are upon God, are overwhelmed and want to worship and praise Him. And that is where our eyes belong. That is where our spiritual eyes belong, focused on God. That is where our spiritual ears must be attuned to, our God. When we see and hear God, we, who love God, are absolutely moved to praise Him. Keeping this in mind, let’s add depth by looking again at Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” We often see in scripture that God will not share His glory with another or His praise to idols. Everything in the Word of God flows smoothly from one subject to another. It all is a single message with a single purpose. So tying these two verses together to find that singleness of message, as we stay in the presence of God we will, like the heavenly hosts in the throne room, have praise burst from our overwhelmed hearts. Our love for God and amazement of Him bursts from us and new songs of praise continuously flow from us to God. It is when we are in His presence with our focus on God, that this joy and praise flows from us. We know that is where we are called to live. It is simple: Focus on God, be in His presence, and praise flows. This happens for all who love God and whom He calls His own. Family, if we are in the presence of God, whether corporally or individually, and praise does not flow, something is very wrong. The questions must arise whether we are in His presence and also do really love God. Since it is so that to be in His presence is to love, praise and glorify Him, then this verse from Isaiah is a call to be in the presence of God and our focus be on Him. Family, we know the Lord really does take His wisdom that is beyond us and explain it to us in the simplest of forms. He does that because the reason He gave us the Word of God was to reveal Himself and continually draw and keep us close to Him. He does that for our benefit, not His. So how do we avoid misappropriating the glory and praise of God to another, or a dead idol? We stay in His presence. If our eyes are on anyone or anything but Him, then we be awed by another. Job said in V 31:1 about his eyes “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman,” If he stared, then evil stands ready to pounce. So it is to focus on the world rather than God. So we must keep our eyes on Him, we must stay in His presence! If we truly worship God, stay focused on Him and keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, then our songs will never ascribe the glory and praise that belongs to God to another. As we learn from the praise of the angels, so we keep the word of God in Isaiah.
The praise of God originates from His very being. Who He is, when gazed upon by those whose eyes have been opened, produces the byproduct of a heart that loves God and automatically praises Him. Therefore, we must stay in His presence, then we will praise God, only God, and not attempt to rob Him of the praise and glory that belongs solely to Him. Praise our God who is worthy of praise! Let us remind ourselves in thought and song, that Jesus is the Lamb of God and the unique one to save us all. What joy and hope flows from looking to Him and to finally be in His home, living with Him, forever and ever. Oh to see God face to face. How frightening! How powerful! How wonderful! Wonderful is our God! Praise God!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.