Evening, September 9

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the
   seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment."

  Revelation 4:4

   These representatives of the saints in heaven are said to be around the
   throne. In the passage in Canticles, where Solomon sings of the King
   sitting at his table, some render it "a round table." From this, some
   expositors, I think, without straining the text, have said, "There is
   an equality among the saints." That idea is conveyed by the equal
   nearness of the four and twenty elders. The condition of glorified
   spirits in heaven is that of nearness to Christ, clear vision of his
   glory, constant access to his court, and familiar fellowship with his
   person: nor is there any difference in this respect between one saint
   and another, but all the people of God, apostles, martyrs, ministers,
   or private and obscure Christians, shall all be seated near the throne,
   where they shall forever gaze upon their exalted Lord, and be satisfied
   with his love. They shall all be near to Christ, all ravished with his
   love, all eating and drinking at the same table with him, all equally
   beloved as his favourites and friends even if not all equally rewarded
   as servants.

   Let believers on earth imitate the saints in heaven in their nearness
   to Christ. Let us on earth be as the elders are in heaven, sitting
   around the throne. May Christ be the object of our thoughts, the centre
   of our lives. How can we endure to live at such a distance from our
   Beloved? Lord Jesus, draw us nearer to thyself. Say unto us, "Abide in
   me, and I in you"; and permit us to sing, "His left hand is under my
   head, and his right hand doth embrace me."


   O lift me higher, nearer thee,

   And as I rise more pure and meet,

   O let my soul's humility

   Make me lie lower at thy feet;

   Less trusting self, the more I prove

   The blessed comfort of thy love.