The children's great texts of the Bible
Revelation 22:21
Amen
Amen. Revelation 22:21.
This is one of the words you hear most frequently in church. It comes at the end of the hymns and prayers and sometimes the minister says it at the end of his sermon. Did you ever stop to think what the word means? It is not just a sign that we may open our eyes and raise our heads if we have been praying, or sit down if we have been singing. The word has been put there for a purpose. It means that you really mean and believe all that you have been praying or singing, that you are in earnest.
“Amen” is a very old word. Originally it was an adjective and meant firm, true, steadfast. It was in use in very early times among the Hebrews. When they wished to give their assent to any very solemn statement or command they answered “Amen.” You remember when King David was dying he sent for Zadok the high priest, and Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah captain of his bodyguard, and told them that he wished Solomon to be made king in his stead. Then he gave orders that these three men were to bring Solomon down to Gihon and there crown him king. And Benaiah answered, “Amen: the Lord God of my lord the king say so too.” That just meant “Yea, verily, may the God of David grant that this may be so.” But Benaiah didn't stop at saying “Amen.” That “Amen” meant that he had pledged his word to carry out the king's commands. And not only did he carry them out to the letter, but afterwards he stood by Solomon to defend and deliver him from his enemies.
In later times the word “Amen” was taken into the worship of the Jewish synagogues. It was used by the congregation as a solemn response to the prayers or hymns of praise of the minister. By answering “Amen,” they made, as it were, all that the minister had said their own, just as if they had prayed the prayers or sung the hymns themselves. Then from the synagogue it was taken into the worship of the Early Christian Church, and so we have it in our church worship today.
Do you know that this word “Amen” was a very frequent word on the lips of Jesus? Unfortunately the men who translated our Bible have tried to turn it into English. When Jesus was about to say something very solemn or very, very important, something that He wanted to assure His hearers was very true, He began by saying, “Verily I say unto you.” If you had a Greek New Testament, you would see that the word translated “verily” is just “Amen.” And when Jesus said, “Amen, I say unto you,” He meant that because He said it they could count on its being true.
There was once a small boy who was trying to describe his baby sister to a lady. He wanted to say something specially nice about her and so he ended, “She is just an ‘ Amen ' baby!” “And what kind of baby may that be?” asked the lady. “Well, you see, she holds up her hands so: like the minister does at the blessing”
Now we want all the boys and girls to be “Amen” boys and girls. We want them all to be blessings to the world and to God. How can they be that?
1. By “being steadfast and faithful and true as Jesus was.
There is a fine story told of William, Prince of Orange, who became William III. of England. When he was invited to come to England he gave written pledges to some of his friends that he would appoint them to office. When he was handing out these pledges, one man who was to hold a very high position refused the paper. “Your Majesty's word is sufficient,” he said, “I would not serve a king whose word I could not trust!”
That was fine, wasn't it? And we want people to be able to say the same of you. We want them to be able to say, “John's word is sufficient. If he has promised to do anything you may count on its being done,” or “It must be true, because Mary said so, and you can always trust her word.”
David Livingstone used to say, “Jesus is a gentleman, and He keeps His word as a gentleman should.” There is nothing grander than to be a follower of Jesus and to be absolutely true and straight in word and deed.
2. And, second, we want you to be “Amen” boys and girls by making your lives a response to God's will.
Away on the shores of the Adriatic there is a beautiful custom practiced among the fisher folk.
When the boats have put out to sea in the evening and are lying far out beside the nets, the wives and friends of the fishermen steal down to the seashore and sing the first verse of one of their favorite hymns. The music of their voices is carried far across the still waters till it reaches the fishermen at their work. Then the men take up the words of the second verse and back across the water steals the sound of the melody. And the women, hearing the echo of their own song, go home satisfied that their friends are safe.
Boys and girls, are you responding to the music of God's voice? Are your lives in tune with His? They will never produce the true melody until they are. He is calling you now. Will you answer with a glad “Amen”?