The prayers of saints

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

What a marvelous picture we have here laid out before us from the apostle John! What a depiction of Heaven! What a replica of the heavenly stage! Has any thing greater ever been vouchsafed to the human eye? Oh to be John! Oh to behold such glory with the temporal eyes! But praise God, we shall all behold Him one day, for we shall see Him as He is.

The scene unfolding before us is a scene revealed as a door was opened in Heaven. John sees that there is a book in the right hand of Him that sits on the throne. It is a book “written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” This is a mighty book. It is sealed securely. No one in Heaven, earth, or under the earth can break the seals. No one can unclasp the lock! No one possesses a key! It is shut and no man openeth. And John weeps because of this insolvable problem. No one can open it. It is eternally sealed. But as John thinks and weeps on this terrible predicament, there appears a Lamb as it had been slain. This Lamb is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah.” He is “the Root of David.” He has prevailed! Christ has conquered! He has solved the insolvable! He has broken through the iron lock! He has emerged victorious! For see Him there! He has prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof! Only the Lamb can do it! Only He is gentle enough and powerful enough! None other but Christ!

But when He takes the book from Him that sits on the throne, another scene breaks through upon us. For we see the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fall before the Lamb. They worship Him! Thee pray to Him! But let us halt for a moment to observe what is in their hands. For two things are readily visible. They are holding harps, that emit a beautiful, heavenly music. But then we see golden vials. What are they for? What is the purpose of the golden bowls? They are “full of odours, which are the prayers of saints!” The prayers of all the saints of all time have been contained in these heavenly bowls. And they are odorous! They are fragrant! They are sweet and aromatic! They are pleasant in the nostrils of the Lamb! They are pleasing to Him that sitteth upon the throne! They are bottled up for His use! Remember, my dear friend, that God hears your prayers. They are sweet to Him! He does not forget them, for they have been saved up for all eternity! They are never forgotten! They are precious to Him! Every prayer is golden. Every prayer is as frankincense. Every prayer is as ointment poured forth. Every prayer is committed to His safe-keeping.

Please, dear one, do not think that your prayers are not received. Do not think that they pass by the Lord. Do not think they are lost from His mind. Do not think that the Lord must be reminded. For every prayer is saved. It is in a golden bowl. The censor of sweet incense is the cask of our prayers. Oh, come to Him today! Pour out your heart to Him. For He is a refuge unto us! He loves to inhale the sweet fragrance of your utterances. Speak to Him today. He shall never forget your prayers! For these sweet odors of Heaven are the prayers of saints!

“Oh Father, we say with the Psalmist, ‘My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up.’ I thank Thee, Father, that our prayers are to Thee as sweet incense. May we come to you every morning. May we pour forth our requests to you every day. May we come with confidence! With boldness! For Thou wilt hear our prayers. May we bring our fragrances every day, and exude sweet odors every morning and evening. We thank Thee for the Lamb of God, through whom all our prayers come. And it is in that precious name, the name of Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.”