Worship VI Day 1 Is He Worthy

Isaiah 53:1-12
Revelation 5:1-14
Revelation 7:9-17

Worship VI, Day 1

I have felt the brokenness of the world with my own two hands. I have grasped at broken pieces as they crumble and fall in little heaps on the floor.

I have seen darkness closing in on me as shadows become darker until, it seems, I can’t even see my own hands before my eyes.

I have heard the groans of creation come forth in the sounds of broken-hearted mothers weeping and sirens moaning while babies wail for compassion and children scream for love.

You have, too, haven’t you? You’ve felt the brokenness, seen the darkness, and heard the groans. You’ve ached so deeply in your soul that you’ve felt it physically manifest inside your body. You’ve longed so earnestly in your will for redemption that your beating heart has felt a pull and made your breath catch.

I see you.

It feels hopeless, sometimes, doesn’t it?

Take heart, dear one. The darkness doesn’t stop the light from shining through. No matter how small the light, the darkness will never fully encompass it.
Light always perseveres.

A friend introduced my mom and I to the modern-day-hymn, “Is He Worthy?” about nine months ago, when the brokenness, darkness, and groaning was pouring its way into our lives at every corner. Seven months later, more brokenness, more darkness, and more groans as we prayed my sister into Jesus’ arms and released her earthly body into the same earth we were created from.

Over the last three years, I’ve written many Journey Studies for Gracefully Truthful. The more I write, the more I learn about the Almighty, which overflows into deeper, more intimate worship to Him because I more fully comprehend the words I’m singing.

I’ve learned that Jesus coming from the “line of Judah” means that way back in the Old Testament, when Abraham’s grandson, Jacob, had twelve sons, the twelve tribes of Israel came from each son, and Jesus’ genealogy goes all the way back to Judah. In that line is Rahab, the prostitute who God saved because she feared Him, and King David, the shepherd who eventually became King of Israel and was a man after God’s own heart. I know Him better, so I can worship Him deeper.

The chorus of “Is He Worthy?” is taken from Revelation 5.

Is anyone worthy?
Is anyone whole?
Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?
The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave
He is David’s root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave
From every people and tribe
Every nation and tongue
He has made us a kingdom and priests to God
To reign with the Son

Jesus is the Lion of Judah.
Jesus conquered the grave when He rose from the dead three days after dying.
Jesus is the unsuspecting King, just as David was. 
Jesus died to ransom you and I, who were slaves to our sin and thereby sentenced to eternal death.

Jesus is the great rescue, the Redeemer, and our answer.
Jesus has made a way for every people, every tribe, every nation, every tongue.
When we choose to let Him cover our sins, we join the Heavenly Kingdom, we are made priests to God, and we are heirs with Christ Himself.

Jesus is our living hope!

When the brokenness, darkness, and groans feel like they’re just too much,
when our world seems utterly hopeless…

Take heart!

We are never without hope!
That hope is Jesus.

Our hope exists because the Light of Christ will always overcome darkness!
Our hope is that the world will be made new!
Our hope is that, though the enemy wins battles…
Our God has won the war! 

The Father loves us.
The Spirit moves in and among us.
Jesus is alive and we will dwell with Him one day.

This song has moved and rolled and tumbled inside of me as I’ve listened to it again and again… and again. So. Much. Hope.

I had the privilege of writing about Living Hope – who is Jesus – and the inner shift that happens when we start focusing more on Him. Maybe the darkness doesn’t seem so dark, maybe the closing in isn’t quite so tight.

Because of incorruptible Living Hope.

Because He is King,
Because He is God Himself,
Because He is,
Jesus is worthy. 

He is perfect and holy.
Flawlessly without sin.
And He gave His life so you and I might have life!

He is worthy! He is whole!
He is breaking the seal and opening the scroll that will begin the transformation from old world to new…

We have hope because He is worthy.

Sing (and probably cry) along with me, sisters, as we listen to this song with new understanding and enter into a time of worship that is so much richer, because we know Him more deeply!

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