This morning, although we read the appointed text from the book of Revelation, the appointed reading skipped the intro. We went straight to a glorious song: "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" It was still good — what with myriads upon myriads of angels surrounding the throne singing "Worthy is the Lamb" — obviously Handel’s setting. But by itself, it is not entirely clear what occasioned this big musical finish.
When we sing, "Worthy is the Lamb!" it is not simply his general worthiness, his deservingness of all praise and honor, glory, might, and power that we extoll. If we do not "skip the intro," we see that he is designated as uniquely worthy to take the scroll, to break its seals — which is to be seated on the throne, scepter in his hand, ruling the cosmos, leading his people finally home.
