REVELATION 14:1-5
by Mike Kurtz
Read Revelation 14:1-5.
What’s in a song?
The 144,000 faithful servants of God are brought into view again (cf. Rev. 7). Here they stand with Christ on what appears to be the heavenly city of Mount Zion. These are the ones who were previously seen on earth being prepared for what we see here – the worship of God with the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The scene is not surprisingly similar to that in chapter 5 where harps are playing and the angels and elders have fallen down in worship before the throne of God. And before the throne they sing a new song (cf. 14:3; 5:9). The new song in chapter 5 is one of deliverance of the saints and of the honor and glory of God forever and ever. What strikes me in this passage is the statement: “No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.” (v. 3) Why could only these people learn this new song?
In the OT, a new song celebrated a new work of God of divine deliverance or blessing. In Ps. 96 we read:
“Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples.” (Ps.96:1-3)New songs are sung whenever God does a new thing in people’s lives. And certainly in that day, this will be a new work of God in the lives of the 144,000. They are able to sing their own new song to Him because they are experiencing a unique blessing of God at the time.
But isn’t God always doing a new work in our lives in some way (particularly according to this Psalm)? Absolutely! And with that in mind, are we not also to sing a new song to the Lord even today? That doesn’t mean we find a new melody to sing with each passing blessing. A song denotes a certain joy or praise in our hearts. There is something emotional about it. There is a tug at our heart strings to make a joyful noise to the Lord. And I believe God does a unique work in each of us that enables us to sing our own song to Him. A song from you to Him. Not to the world, not for anyone else to hear but God. Just like no one else was able to learn the song of the 144,000, there is a song in your heart that is just yours that no one else can learn.
So today, express a song of praise to God just from you. What new thing is He doing in your life? What new song of praise can you bring to the Lord? The psalmist ends with the words, “declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all the peoples.” We all have a unique song to God, but if there’s something I’ve learned over the years it is that when God puts a song in our hearts, there is no holding it in. The world can see it. What’s in a song? God’s work in your life, that’s what. Let that be a picture of your life this week. Consider the new thing God is doing in your life, sing a new song to the Lord, and let Him shine!
