“…. the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”
Revelation 5:8 (NIV)
Sometimes we need a glimpse of heaven to meditate on. Each of the twenty four elders in heaven are holding a golden bowl filled with prayers, our prayers. In their other hand, they are holding a harp, and then they all bow before the Lamb, who is Jesus.
The twenty four elders are probably a Judeo-Christian group consisting of the twelve apostles plus the twelve sons of Jacob. His twelve sons also represent the twelve tribes of Israel. They all stand in worship before the throne of Jesus, the Lamb of God.
Since this group is holding a harp, along with their bowl of prayers, it confirms the idea that worship goes hand in hand with prayer.
This image of heaven describes a vivid combination of sights, scents and sounds. All of our senses are stimulated in heaven. There will be golden bowls to see, fragrant incense to smell and harp music to hear. The most interesting part of this scene, is the elders who hold our prayers within their golden bowls, presenting them to Jesus, who told us to ask anything in His name.
While we face adversity in our lives, it can be a struggle to believe that God hears all our prayers. John’s vision tells us that God not only hears us, but He values our prayers enough to put them in a golden bowl, which then is lit up, becoming a fragrant incense, ascending to our high priest intercessor, in heaven.
There are no boundaries of time or space in heaven, so our prayers are ever present before Him. We may forget what we asked for a year or two ago, but Heaven never forgets. Every prayer we pray, endures in His eternal presence through the smoke of fragrant incense. He answers us in due time, according to His plan and purpose. Whatever we ask for in Jesus’ name, carries the aroma of Christ with it, all the way to God’s throne in heaven.
(2 Corinthians 2:15)
Knowing this, we put our hope and faith in God, through Jesus, and offer our praise along with every petition. God is worthy of praise, because no one loves us more, no one takes our welfare more to His heart, or has a better plan for all things to work together for our good…than God. He deserves praise for who He is, not for what He does. He loves us for who we are, not for what we do. He is the image and author of the purest love.
Psalm 141:2 says, “Let my prayer come before you like incense.” David knew this truth and he lived his life in a constant state of worship, offering to God, his petitions with praise:
“I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall be always in my mouth. My soul will glory in the Lord,
let the poor hear and be glad.
Magnify the Lord with me;
and let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me, delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34:2-5)
Praise is very therapeutic and it delivers us from every type of fear, because the fruit of praise is peace.
Since my son’s coma from the motorcycle accident, God keeps me in peace, as long as I keep myself in an attitude of praise.
The neurosurgeon told me that he expects Jon to eventually wake up, but he will have a long road of recovery ahead of him.
Whenever someone reminds us that a situation is really bad, we need to remind ourselves that God is really good. If we keep His praise on our lips, God will keep us in perfect peace.
I know my son is receiving great medical care, but my hope is founded on the golden bowls in heaven, filled with the prayers of many faithful people. As I envision a golden bowl full of prayers, I thank each one of you for the prayers you have added to that bowl.
God is good, and whatever His plan is, He always finds a way to show His goodness to whomever, however He chooses.
Lord, we praise you and thank you that every prayer comes before you as incense from golden bowls. Grant us peace as we trust in you to answer our petitions and deliver us from all worry in the name of Jesus. Amen