Saturday, April 23, 2016
THE LAMB ON THE THRONE WILL SHEPHERD THEM (6)
Revelation 7:17a ...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters....
"THE LAMB IS MY SHEPHERD..."
What a marvelous paradox! The "weak and meek" Lamb who willingly served as a sacrificial offering for the sins of His people turns out to be their Shepherd!
In Psalm 23 we say "The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want...." In other words, "The Lamb is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing." The Good Shepherd who pastured His sheep on Earth beside the "green pastures" and "quiet waters" of His holy and saving Word will in heaven "lead them to living fountains of waters"--the living water of eternal life.
To the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus said, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:13-14).
Have you seen the artwork which pictures the Lamb with the flag and staff of victory? As Jesus conquered sin and death, so will all who believe in Him. All glory then to our risen Lord, the triumphant Lamb of God! The victory culminates with everlasting life, prompting the multitude to sing the glorious refrain: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (v. 10).
Until we join the angel choir in the Church Triumphant, we sing already now while still in the Church Militant:
"Worthy the Lamb that died," they cry, "To be exalted thus."
"Worthy the Lamb," our lips reply, For He was slain for us.
Let all creation join in one To bless the sacred name
Of Him who sits upon the throne And to adore the Lamb.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 344:2, 4)
