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

The doxologies in the book of Revelation are full of songs and declarations of how worthy God is to receive praise and worship from all creation. From these doxologies, we see the profound knowledge of the angels about the Majesty of God and His redemptive work through Christ Jesus. It flows into high praise and worship in God’s presence. In the same way, for our praise and worship to be as meaningful and deep, we have to know God intimately. We have to cherish His love expressed in His mercy and grace toward us in Christ Jesus. He is worthy of our praise and worship!

The International Version (NIV) uses the adjective worthy forty-eight times in the New Testament. They use it in connection with God as deserving of everything that is good and of the highest quality and nobility in the entire universe. 

In chapter five verse, eleven of Revelation, we hear the multitude of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders declaring His glory in worship. 

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (Rev. 5:12). 

They proclaim that Christ, the Lamb of God, has the highest honor and is deserving of all praise because of who He is and what He has accomplished. Calvary is the fulfillment of the purpose and will of God the Father, under His eternal plan for salvation (Vv. 9-10). The heavenly worshipers look at Jesus and recognize His great sacrifice and accomplishment that no one in all creation could ever accomplish. They see the evidence of the eternal blessings Christ has showered on His redeemed (v.10), and they worship Him. His majesty and accomplishment overwhelm the angelic host and stir them unto wholesome worship and praise to King Jesus. Their worship is meaningful and hearty and humbling – the way we who are the direct recipients of this grace should worship and praise Him. It requires personal knowledge of Him and the expression of His love for us through Christ Jesus. As we reflect on such things and His blessedness, God becomes big in our lives, and with hearts full of gratitude, we burst into profound worship and praise.

As Wiersbe comments in his expositional outlines on the New Testament (811), “Christ alone is worthy of praise. It is interesting to contrast this doxology with the earthly life of Christ. His enemies said He was worthy of death (John 19:7), but the angels say He is worthy of praise. Men accused Him of working by the power of Satan (Matthew 12:24), but the angels say He is worthy of power. He became poor for our sakes (2 Cor. 8:9), but He deserves all riches. The preaching of the cross is foolishness to sinful man (1 Cor. 1:18), but it is wisdom to the angels. They crucified Jesus on earth in weakness (2 Cor. 13:4). In heaven, they laud him for His power. Dishonored on earth, they honor him in glory. They made Him a curse on the cross. He is today both the recipient and bestower of blessing.”

Do you see how such knowledge can deepen your worship and praise of our King Eternal? Why don’t you get to know Him more and join the heavenly host in proclaiming Him as worthy of all power, wealth, wisdom, strength, glory, honor, and praise forever? Amen!