To the Almighty (Song of the Lamb)
Beloved People of God,
Years ago, Bebe Winans in a live recording of Nothing but the Blood, as the piano keys tinkled in the background, shared how across American Christianity, we sang the same songs, just with different arrangements. He demonstrated what he meant by taking the song, commonly sung as a single voice, arranged the lyrics as a call and response. Winans asks, “What can wash away my sin?” and the choir reply, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” And as the drums kick back on the rhythm, the bass line bouncing up and down, together the voices rejoice: “O precious is the flow / that makes me white as snow / no other fount I know / nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
Reading Revelation 15, we’ve heard this song of before, just with a different arrangement. What we’ve sung before crossing on the dry ground through the Red Sea, a song of Moses, a hymn of praise to our Almighty God, has become the song of the Lamb. Amos Young artfully said it this way: “As the Hebrews cried out to their God and then celebrated with Moses in the wake of their deliverance, so also can the church today pray to the Almighty one and continue to sing Moses's song, albeit attuned now to the Lamb's new key.”
Beloved, take time today as you sing the songs of Eternity, hear John’s revelation as a call to which we respond. Here him exalting: “This is all my hope and peace” and join all creation singing “nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Together, let’s sing of His great and awesome works among us! Let’s lift our hands in praise as we entrust ourselves to His ways that are just and true (Revelation 15.3)! In the assembly of the saints, let’s hear the Apostle’s humble worship, “This is all my righteousness,” and join him—bowed low before the Lamb who was slain, by whose blood we are ransomed to be a people for God,” (Revelation 5.9)—knowing we stand before the Lord God by “nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Whatever arrangement you sing, friend, let’s go through this day rejoicing!
For His Name’s Sake,
Brett