Revelation 5:1-10:
Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals, ² and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴ And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. ⁸ When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ They sing a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to break its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
    saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
¹⁰ you have made them a kingdom and priests serving our God,
    and they will reign on earth.” (from the NRSVUE on BibleGateway)

One of the practices that has been most meaningful to my prayer life and in deepening my relationship with God is the practice of daily scripture reading and/or listening and praying with those holy words.

Thursday morning, I heard this text while using the Pray As You Go app, and had a chance to sit with these – let’s face it – kind of bizarre sounding words in prayer. This app is rooted in Ignatian spirituality and often uses imaginative prayer to connect scripture and daily life, and, frankly, I was wondering where these words might take my prayer!

Revelation is probably one of, if not the number one, misunderstood books of the Bible. It’s a book people associate with the future and what is to come, viewing it as a prediction or a playbook of things that will happen. Scripture scholars, however, help us understand these words as a message written to give hope to listeners in circumstances of trials, suffering, and persecution, both when it was written and for today. This book was written to encourage the people of God to ground themselves in worship and prayer, keeping God at the center no matter what the circumstances.

Listening to this passage, I heard a few things that caught my attention amidst the angels and seals and wacky creatures…

First: “‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.”

The observer (and author) sees a lost cause: no one can possibly open the scroll because no one is worthy. The Pray As You Go devotion suggested that perhaps this scroll contains wisdom and asked how it felt to hear that no one can open it. As I thought about that, the places in my life where I felt I needed wisdom and understanding came to mind. I thought about how frustrating it can be when we feel God is silent, answers are distant, or when we can’t figure out ways forward in difficult situations. How it can feel like we’re spinning our wheels as all the experiences and resources we bring to bear on a given situation fall short.

Maybe we’re longing for the wisdom and insight to come up with a creative solution for a tricky work problem.

Maybe we’re asking how to make a painful situation better but can’t come up with anything.

Maybe we’re trying to build bridges, but we’re being met with the cold shoulder or active resistance.

Maybe anxiety, worries, or stress keep us on the proverbial hamster wheel, unable to stop ruminating and longing for peace and a way of relaxing our spinning minds and hearts.

Maybe we’re just so confused by what’s happening, we can’t even begin to make heads or tails of it.

Maybe we’re asking for the wisdom, patience, and compassion needed to care for someone we love dearly.

Maybe our bodies have betrayed us with sickness, injury, or age and we find ourselves frustrated by not being able to do what we used to do with ease.

Have you ever been there?

Second: “‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’”

Do not weep.

Just when we’re feeling stuck or stifled, without wisdom or insight or solutions, what’s this? I heard these words and this resonated in my heart: “hang on. This isn’t the end of the story. There is Someone with wisdom for has been and what lies ahead.”

When we feel stuck, it’s also easy to feel like we’re alone in the fray. Like we have to figure it out ourselves. Like no one else has ever been through or experienced what we are going through. But that’s not true. Not only has Christ (the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb of God) shared the difficulties of human life, but we also have the gift of the collective wisdom of the saints who have come before us and those with whom we journey now. Even the original hearers of these words are our siblings in the uncomfortable and disconcerting parts of life we’d really rather move through with haste or skip entirely.

What if we instead asked for guidance from the only One with the wisdom to navigate life’s sticky situations?

What unimagined middle way might we discover relying on Christ’s loving insight?

How might asking for God’s wisdom open us up to notice the wisdom already given around us and within us?

What might the Holy Spirit remind us of and teach us as we look to, study, and embody deeper, eternal truths?

How might knowing that Christ is already victorious free us to take risks for the sake of love and connection?

How might relying on the Lamb of God shape us into humble followers, open to learning and asking for others’ help?

What is God inviting you to ask for today?

Third: “They sing a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to break its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.’”

Having heard that Jesus has already been victorious, with their hearts relieved, the saints – the beloved children of God from every time and place – let loose singing a joyous new song of praise and thanksgiving, offering not only their song, but their service to God and neighbor. Rooted in the knowledge of what God has done, God’s children are free to respond. They are free to go out and follow the Spirit’s leading, knowing they’re never alone. God is always there and so is that heavenly choir of fellow believers.

What new song might you sing, knowing Christ will see you through?

Is there a melody of gratitude that might underscore your life secure in what God’s love has done?

What new rhythms of worship, praise and service might you embrace as you rely on God’s wisdom and leading?

Who are the saints who sing with you through all life’s varied moments?

How can you share hope and encouragement with those who may be struggling to find safety, support, courage, and fortitude in life’s circumstances?

This reading felt so off-putting when I initially heard it, but I’m deeply grateful for the Pray As You Go devotion and for the opportunity to hear these words in a new way. Likewise, I hope these thoughts and questions offer a little something for you as you head into the weekend.

© Annabelle P. Markey