Worship: God's Weapon of Judgment

When you read the Book of Revelation, you’ll notice that the judgments on the earth begin in chapter 6. 

What I found interesting is what occurs BEFORE the judgment of God falls in chapter 6 of the Book in Revelation. The scene in chapters 4-5 are in heaven (4:1).  In chapter 4, God is pictured seated in heaven on a throne (vv. 2-8).

Then as we come into chapter 5, God holds out His hand and in His hand is a little scroll sealed with seven seals (v. 1).  Those seven seals basically were for the purpose of hiding what was in the scroll.  It could not be broken without showing that someone had done that.  It could not be read unless it was broken; it couldn't be broken legally except by the one who had a right to open it.

What is the little scroll that God held in His hand?  It is the title deed of the universe. Only one person was worthy to take the scroll, break its seals and open it. That person is none other than Jesus Christ, for He alone is worthy (v. 5). 

Now get this:  Around the throne of God worship is taking place in both chapters 4-5.  Those engaged in worshiping the One who sits on the throne (God Himself) are the redeemed who have been raptured (4:4, 9-11) and the angels (4:6-8). 

And in the midst of this glorious worship taking place in heaven, out from it comes judgment upon the earth.   I cannot stress more clearly how God often times uses worship as a means of bringing judgment on the enemy and victory to His people.

It is not without purpose that before the terrible judgments of God fall in Revelation chapters 6-19, worship of God by the redeemed and the angels precedes it in chapters 4-5.

Satan hates when God’s people spend time in worship. God loves when His people come to Him in precision focus on worshiping Him for His greatness and for Who He Is!

To get you started, below are some verses to meditate on.

“… the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23)

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

“Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2)

“The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He dwells between the cherubim; let the earth be moved! The Lord is great in Zion, and He is high above all the peoples. Let them praise Your great and awesome name – He is holy …. Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy.” (Psalm 99:1,5)

“He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two.” (Psalm 107:14-16)

“You are my God, and I will praise You; You are my God, I will exalt You. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 118:28)

“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord … Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:1,3)

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts.” (Psalm 145:3)

“I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” (Psalm 69:30)

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.” (Psalm 104:33)

“Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with high sounding cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1-6)

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.” (Psalm 98:1)

“But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, the God of my mercy.” (Psalm 59:16)

“Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to the Lord with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth … Sing praises to God, sing praises! … For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:1,6)

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples. Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord. Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face evermore. Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth …” (Psalm 105:1-5)

“Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.” (Psalm 100:1-5)

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods … Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.” (Psalm 95:1,6)

“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name.” (Psalm 66:1-4)

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods … Give to the Lord glory and strength. Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:1,7)

“Let them praise His name with dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth …"(Psalm 149:3)

Then David danced before the Lord with all his might … “Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.” (2 Samuel 6:14, 21)

When you meet for worship at your church or in your small groups, encourage your leaders to kick it up a couple of notches. The greater the worship the more extreme the coming judgment of God. Worship is a glorious way to rely and depend on the justice of God to carry out its intended purpose on those who have it coming.