Hey Church!

This Sunday we plan to sing “Is He Worthy” by Andrew Peterson, so I thought it might be a helpful exercise in preparation to meditate together on its meaning over the weekend. 

The song’s lyrics are in bold below, followed by Scripture proofs and commentary. 

“Is He Worthy”

(Verse 1)
Do you feel the world is broken? We do.
This call-and-response style of congregational hymn is called “antiphonal” singing. It was very common in the ancient church (and before) as a means of engaging the whole congregation in praise (as opposed to passively observing the professionals on stage). You are the choir when you come to church on Sundays; the worship team is only there to help, and to inspire your worship. 

Do you feel the shadows deepen? We do.
Boy, do I! 

But do you know that all the dark won’t stop the light from getting through? We do.
“In [the Word (i.e. God the Son)] was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)

Do you wish that you could see it all made new? We do.
“He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new!” (Rev. 21:5)

(Verse 2)
Is all creation groaning? It is.
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” (Rom. 8:22)

Is a new creation coming? It is.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst? It is.
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Rev. 21:22-27)

Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? It is.
I love this line! How often do we feel our souls being oppressed and our hope eroded by the darkness of this fallen world? It is good for us to remind ourselves continually that Jesus has overcome it, and so will we who hope in Him. 

(Chorus 1)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The chorus draws heavily from Revelation 5: 
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” (Rev. 5:1-4)

One commentator helpfully describes the scroll of Revelation as representing Christ’s “title deed” to all that the Father promised Him as a reward for His atoning sacrifice. It is sealed with seven seals–the number of completion in the Bible–and none are found worthy to open it. A title deed or will cannot legally be opened by anyone but the rightful heir. In essence, John’s tearful plea is, “God has a glorious plan to redeem all of the world’s brokenness–it’s right there in His hand! But we all fall so miserably short of His glory that we are doomed to die!” 

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave:
He is David’s Root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave.
The “Lion of Judah” harkens back to Genesis 49:8-10, when Jacob blesses his son, Judah, as heir to the throne. Jacob describes him as “a lion’s cub.” This designation is then forever used to describe him and, most importantly, his posterity through whom the Messiah will come. 

“And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Rev. 5:5)

Is He worthy? Is He worthy of all blessing and honor and glory?
Is He worthy of this? He is
Revelation 5 continues: 
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
    from every tribe and language and people and nation, 
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.  (Rev. 5:6-14)

(Verse 3)
Does the Father truly love us? He does
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.” (1 Jn. 3:1)

Does the Spirit move among us? He does
There are too many passages to list! Here’s one: 
“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Rom. 8:16)

And does Jesus our Messiah hold forever those He loves? He does
Again, too many to list: 
“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” (Jn. 4:25-26)

Does our God intend to dwell again with us? He does
“Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15)
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”  (Rev. 21:1-4)

(Chorus 2)
Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole? 
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave: He is David’s Root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave. 
From ev’ry people and tribe, every nation and tongue, He has made us a kingdom and priests to God to reign with the Son!
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? 
Of all blessing and honor and glory
Is He worthy? Is He worthy? 
Is He worthy of this?

(Refrain)
He is!
He is! 
He is! 
He is! 
He is worthy!
He is worthy of all blessing and honor and glory!
He is worthy of this. He is!

It is good that we remind ourselves of this! Come Sunday ready to proclaim it with a full heart and loud voice. And be heartened as you listen to the sound of our “mighty throng” united in praise!