"And Let All The People Say, Amen " (Psalm 106.48)

by G.A. JONES | Category: General | Dec 1962

Over many years much has appeared in these pages on the subject of the "Amen," the importance of which is clearly seen from the many references made to it throughout the Holy Scriptures. Indeed we may rightly judge that wherever a subject is alluded to, whether in command, teaching or in practice, God has some high purpose therein in the "Amen" as employed in the Old Testament.

We desire to trace what has been written about it for our help in the following summary.

THE AMEN IS A DIVINE NAME OR TITLE

God employs the name or title Amen in calling upon men to consider Himself and His precious and exceeding great promises. Isaiah speaks of the day of the manifestation of the glory of God upon earth in millennial times, when "he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth" (or, the God of Amen) (Isaiah 65.16). The God of truth will be known, the steadfast and faithful God whose word ever comes to pass.

Paul writes similarly in his consideration of the steadfast character of divine promises, saying, "For how many soever be the promises of God, in Him is the yea: wherefore also through Him is the Amen, unto the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1.20-22). Lastly, in this connexion, the Lord Jesus, as He walks in the midst of the churches, says of Himself, "These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God" (Revelation 3.14).

This threefold reference helps us to see most clearly the meaning and purpose of the Amen in divine revelation. The name declares the Divine Being as the one Person of absolute truthfulness.

THE AMEN IN THE COMMAND TO THE ISRAEL NATION

From Mount Ebal the curse for failure through sin was to be pronounced, as the Israel nation was enjoined. And as they heard the curses proclaimed with a loud voice by the Levites : "All the people shall say, Amen" (Deuteronomy 27.11-26). The solemn acquiescence of these people was to follow the pronouncement of each curse. This passage held most solemn lessons for the people of God.

THE AMEN IN THE NEW SERVICE OF PRAISE

With a view to the setting up of the house of God, David instituted the service of praise for God's people. He made it the chief work. "Then on that day did David first ordain to give thanks unto the LORD, by the hand of Asaph and his brethren" (1 Chronicles 16.7). Then follows the song of praise, which was a suitable collection of pieces from a number of Psalms, to which the people added their tribute and said, "Amen," and praised the LORD" (verse 86). We shall see further that what the people did then became customary on many other occasions.

THE AMEN IN THE PSALMS

There are at least four references to the Amen in the Book, or Books, of the Psalms. We quote one outstanding ending to a song of praise in which the wondrous works of God are recalled.

"Save us, 0 LORD our God,

And gather us from among the nations,

To give thanks unto Thy holy name,

And to triumph in Thy praise.

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

From everlasting even to everlasting.

And let all the people say, Amen.

Praise ye the LORD" (Psalm 106. 47, 48).

This is an appeal to the Israel nation to remember what God had wrought.

THE AMEN IN REMNANT TIMES

The people were gathered together as one man to hear the word of the LORD through the teaching priest, Ezra. The congregation consisted of both men and women, and all that could hear with understanding. They listened attentively from early morning till midday. "And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with the lifting up of their hands:

and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground" (Nehemiah 8.1-6). We doubt not that the double Amen was uttered with deep gratitude and thankfulness to God but we would mark this again for our example, ALL the people said the Amen, not just the men only but the women also, with awe as they heard the word of God, and such an attitude may well speak to our hearts.

THE AMEN IN THE EPISTLES

Passing to the New Testament, we note that the apostles often employ the Amen at the close of their epistles, and also as they bless the Divine Being, both the Father and the Son. The Roman epistle itself would provide sufficient examples for our purpose, but see in addition to those instances now specifically mentioned, the following: 1 Corinthians 16.24; Galatians 6. 18; Philippians 4.20; 1 Peter 5.11; 2 Peter 3.18; Jude 25, and so forth. Romans 1.25 reads: "For that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." In Romans 9.5 the words are: "Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is ovcr all, God blessed for ever. Amen." To complete a threefold testimony from Romans we quote :- " To the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever. Amen" (16. 27). In this testimony from Romans we have chiefly in view the reverence that should be associated with the Amen.

THE AMEN IN THE FUTURE

The language used on earth by so many is also the language of heaven, and now the apostle John hears the sweet refrain by those surrounding the throne. Shall we note the majestic setting? There is One on the Throne. There is One in the midst of the Throne, He who is the Lion and the Lamb; and John, who saw, comments thus: "And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying, Unto Him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped" (Revelation 5.18, 14). Wonderful indeed All creation renders homage to the Lamb that hath been slain. "And all the angels were standing round about the throne ... and they fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, Amen : Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 7.11, 12). This utterance of praise begins and ends with the Amen.

How sublime that John should use the Amen twice in the first chapter of the Revelation (verses 6, 7) and twice in the last chapter (verses 20, 21)! And it is most appropriate that the last word in the canon of Holy Scripture is Amen. "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with the saints. Amen " (Revelation 22. 21).

In this overall survey of the saying of the Amen, in different ages, at distinct times, both in speaking to God and as men heard His voice, the language of both heaven and earth, it leaves us in no doubt at all as to its right and proper use in churches of God today. The scripture in 1 Corinthians 14.16 shows that the Amen was said in the churches of God in apostolic days :-" Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?" We believe that the saying of the Amen bespeaks the unity of the saints in the churches of God in their service both Godward and manward.

"Amen, Amen, it rolls along,

Re-echoing from the throne again;

Be ours to mingle with the throng

In that eternal, loud Amen.

Amen."

G.A. JONES | Dec 1962
General