Join The Crowd

Revelation 7:9-17

(Praise of the Great Multitude)

9After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white and held palm branches in their hands. 10And they were shouting with a mighty shout, “Salvation comes from our God on the throne and from the Lamb!”

11And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell face down before the throne and worshiped God. 12They said,

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom

and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength

belong to our God forever and forever. Amen!”

13Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me, “Who are these who are clothed in white? Where do they come from?”

14And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.”

Then he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white. 15That is why they are standing in front of the throne of God, serving him day and night in his Temple. And he who sits on the throne will live among them and shelter them. 16They will never again be hungry or thirsty, and they will be fully protected from the scorching noontime heat. 17For the Lamb who stands in front of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to the springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe away all their tears.”

Psalm Link

Psalm 3:8

Victory comes from you, O LORD.

May your blessings rest on your people.

In the Civil War a soldier was captured and taken to Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia, for confinement. He feared what awaited him behind the foreboding, heavy gates.

Then he heard a deep bass voice singing out from an upper window in the prison: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” When the singer reached the second line, more voices chimed in. Still more joined on the next line, until finally the entire prison was singing, “Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

The Doxology made a difference. Oh, the iron gates were still there, strong as ever. But the prisoner was no longer bound by fear.

In Revelation we read of a vast crowd that has endured suffering. Some are homeless, many are famished, others have been tortured. But what a glorious Hallelujah they sing together!

Then the Lion-Lamb becomes their Shepherd. He dries their tears and leads them beside the still waters.

What are you afraid of? Death? Pain? Loss? Join the crowd. Seriously, join the crowd of those through the ages who sing praises to the Lamb who has suffered for us. We find comfort, guidance, and eternal rest in him.

Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,

The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light:

‘Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin:

Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

HENRY ALFORD

Bible Networking

For other pictures of the Good Shepherd in action, see Psalm 23; Psalm 36:8-9; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:22-23; John 10:1-30.

Notable Quotable

“If there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents, how unbelievably great will be the joyful adoration when all the redeemed stand before their God!”

ROBERT H. MOUNCE