O measureless might ineffable love
While angels delight to worship Thee above
The humbler creation though feeble their lays
With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise
O Worship the King 1561
By: William Kethe (?-1594)
Listen to this modern version of this ancient hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this ancient hymn prepare to get in on the worship. If you are going to issue this call to worship with any authenticity you need to make certain you are engaged in worship. Let’s tune our hearts.
Ineffable?
Sometimes when we sing things written years ago we come across words that are more than a little unfamiliar. This last stanza has two, one in this first part and one in the last. We will take a look at “lays” on Thursday. But first, how would you define ineffable?
Since you know that it is an adjective describing God’s love you might have some guesses: ie. great, extravagant, free. Honestly though, this is one I had to look up. It means, “too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words.” If there is a word in the English language that aptly expresses or describes the love of our King I think this just might be it. Ironic that it is a word that does a good job describing another word that can not be described!
God’s love is ineffable. True statement. And His might is measureless as well.
O measureless might ineffable love
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 ESV
Again we see complementary qualities of our Lord set beside each other, might and love. He uses His might to display His love through our salvation which is proof of His rejoicing over us. We may struggle to communicate our response of love, but thankfully He does not.
So great is His might there is simply no way to measure it. So extravagant is His love there is simply no way to express it. He brings together these two qualities in beauty and splendor and the angels lead the praise all creation will one day join. Thank Him for revealing them to you.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider God’s might and love. We con not measure or express it, but we still try to do the latter. Make this your simple prayer today “God, thank You for revealing Your might and love to me.”
Delight
Not only do the angels worship our King, they delight to do so. And why wouldn’t they? After all, He is worthy.
Can you imagine what that scene must look like. Day after day from eternity past the angels offer their praise to the Father. So incredible are their voices they are often described as sounding like a trumpet. Equally other-worldly would be their appearance and the atmosphere of their heavenly praise.
Imagine how awe-inspiring their worship must be. No wonder Isaiah declared he was undone in the midst of it, and John struggled to describe it. They certainly worship because they should, but their delight reveals they worship because they want to.
While angels delight to worship Thee above
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne…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!” Revelation 5:11-12 ESV
This is a beautiful, powerful picture of the worship of angels. They delight to do it, and rightfully so as He is worthy. Unparalleled in all creation.
Since the morning stars first sang His praise the angels have delighted to do likewise. We have a few glimpses in Scripture of what that looks like now, and what it will look like later. Give God praise for pulling back the veil of His heavenly throne room.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider what the angelic worship must look and sound like. We can imagine because He has given us some idea. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Lord, I give You praise for describing the worship of Your angels.” Then give Him praise for welcoming you to join them.
God, thank You for letting me try to express how great your love is, even though I never will be able to entirely, nor can the angels that circle Your throne. Still yet, I will try. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Inspired Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 32.5 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
O measureless might ineffable love
While angels delight to worship Thee above
The humbler creation though feeble their lays
With true adoration shall all sing Thy praise
So great is His might there is simply no way to measure it. So extravagant is His love there is simply no way to express it. He brings together these two qualities in beauty and splendor and the angels lead the praise all creation will one day join. Thank Him for revealing them to you.
God, thank You for revealing Your might and love to me.
Since the morning stars first sang His praise the angels have delighted to do likewise. We have a few glimpses in Scripture of what that looks like now, and what it will look like later. Give God praise for pulling back the veil of His heavenly throne room.
Lord, I give You praise for describing the worship of Your angels.
Scripture also bears out even more clearly that we are made a little lower than the angels. Accordingly, the praise we offer is humbler than theirs. Even still that does not stop us from offering the best we have now, even as we long for more.
Spirit, help me offer my best praise today.
And more is coming. More and better praise by more of creation, frankly all of creation. We long for that day when every knee will bow and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord. May we praise Him now in such a way that many join us even before that Great Day arrives.
Jesus, help me praise You in a way that welcomes others to join.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Sing
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post Expressing the Inexpressible appeared first on Resonant 7.
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