Amen!

(Deuteronomy 27:14-16) And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother. And all the people shall say, Amen.

Anything that we do regularly in worship needs regular instruction. And perhaps the thing that we do with the most regularity is the utterance of the covenantal oath: “Amen.”

Israel was commanded by God to respond to His revelation by saying “Amen”, and when they did so, to pledge, out loud, their devotion to the Lord, and their intent to obey all of His commands. Jehovah is still pleased, and His people still edified with audible professions of faith and fealty. So ready yourself to say “Amen”. At the close of each psalm and hymn that we sing this morning, affirm the verity of the doctrines contained in them, and pledge yourself anew to obey every command and precept that we have sung in the congregation. Listen carefully to the prayers as they are prayed so that you can add your careful “so-be-it”, “yes, truly”, “Lord, make it so”, your “Amen” at the end of the prayer. Seal the sermon and declare your intent to live it out with a hearty “Amen”.

Again, be careful Christian, things done often can be done without thinking and more importantly without faith. Seek grace to offer a faithful, energetic, well-informed “amen”, and to never utter a faithless, apathetic and ignorant one.Remember as well not to take the name of the Lord your God in vain. According to the Revelation of St. John, one of Christ’s names is “Amen”, in fact, “the Amen”. This being the case, when you say or sing “Amen” in response to God’s Word and the illumination of His Holy Spirit, you are publicly pledging your fealty and obedience in Jesus’ name, a very weighty thing indeed. And lastly, do not mumble your oath. Confirm the veracity of each amen with the reverent enthusiasm and volume befitting the vows you are making to your King. And amen!