The Lion and the Lamb - Revelation 5:9

The Lion and the Lamb

Revelation 5:9

Kenute P. Curry

And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (5:9)

And they sang a new song – This third doxology of praise is directed to the Lamb (Jesus Christ). The only reference in the Bible that records angels singing is Job 38:7; so it is best to view only the elders as singing here. The four living creatures and the holy angels have no need to be redeemed. Throughout Scripture, the new song is a song of redemption (Psalms 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 14:3). The song is new not only in magnitude but in words and music. Thus begins the third doxology of praise to Jesus Christ.

You are worthy – Christ is worthy because He is the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and the King of kings and Lord of lords. To break the books seals means to enact the judgments written in it, which further reinforces Christ’s worthiness.

You were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood – Christ’s substitutionary and sacrificial death has purchased people out of every tribe, tongue, and nation for God. The word redeemed in the Greek is ἀγοράζω agorázō, which means “to buy out, especially to purchase a slave for his freedom.” It is “The consequence of something or someone having been bought is that the buyer has the right of possession. In the redemptive work of Christ the idea is that Christ, by offering Himself for us as due satisfaction, freed us from our liability in paying it ourselves (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23; Galatians 3:13; 2 Peter 2:1; Revelation 5:9; 14:3, 4). He, having paid the price, binds us to Himself.”

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible, © 1979, 1980, 1982, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.

©2015 Kenute P. Curry. All rights reserved.