April 29
WORTHY IS THE LAMB
Words and Music by Don Wyrtzen, 1942–
You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they were created and have their being. (Revelation 4:11)
Come, let us join our cheerful songs with angels round the throne;
Ten thousand thousand are their tongues, but all their joys are one.
“Worthy the Lamb that died,” they cry, “to be exalted thus.”
“Worthy is the Lamb,” our lips reply “for He was slain for us.”
The whole creation joins as one to bless the sacred Name
Of Him that sits upon the throne, and to adore the Lamb.
—Isaac Watts
Heaven will be a place of great singing as we join voices with the angels and saints of the ages in praising the One who made it all possible.
This popular contemporary hymn is based directly on a text of Scripture that could well be the believers’ theme throughout eternity:
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:12)
Don Wyrtzen, author and composer of this hymn and one of the outstanding gospel song writers of our day, recalls:
In 1970, I was in Mexico City assisting evangelist Luis Palau conduct a series of crusades. Because the messages were in Spanish, I spent the time during the sermons writing new songs. One day I became particularly impressed with the great truth of Revelation 5:12, and I thought how effective this verse could be, if only the proper music was used to enhance it. I thought about the music used in the secular song “The Impossible Dream” and decided that a similar musical style would work well with these words. God has used this song to bless and inspire His people during these past years perhaps more than any other work I have been privileged to write, for which I will be eternally grateful to Him.
* * * *
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive: Power and riches and wisdom and strength, honor and glory and blessing! Worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, worthy is the Lamb!
For Today: John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; Revelation 5:6–13; 13:8; 17:14
What is your response to the resurrected and now reigning Christ? Are you living daily in the awareness of His life-giving power? Are you joyfully anticipating the day when you will join the heavenly chorus extolling the One who alone is worthy of all praise? Why not begin even now? p 133
Kenneth W. Osbeck, Amazing Grace : 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1990). 132.
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