There Is a Higher Throne

There is a higher throne
Than all this world has known
Where faithful ones from every tongue
Will one day come
Before the Son we’ll stand
Made faultless through the Lamb
Believing hearts find promised grace
Salvation comes

I remember the 1953 coronation… we didn’t have a television… we went next door – Olive and Les had just bought one. We watched in black and white, but mostly grey…

Yesterday I joined with millions watching the majesty and the spectacle Gloriously coloured robes and uniforms costumed the unfolding drama in the Westminster Abbey Theatre. King Charles said, ‘I come not to be served by to serve’. This drama was rooted in Biblical symbolism and hundreds of years of Christian tradition.

The choir sang the new Andrew Lloyd Webber anthem – based on Psalm 98. ‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord for he hath done marvellous things…’ I recalled a recent interview with Lloyd Webber. He described a conversation he’d had with the king; they both knew that ‘The Lord’, wasn’t Charles…

And there we’ll find our home
Our life before the throne
We’ll honour Him in perfect song
Where we belong
He’ll wipe each tear-stained eye
As thirst and hunger die
The Lamb becomes our Shepherd King
We’ll reign with Him

I’m pointed to the Biblical pictures of thrones and crowns. I remember with King Charles where worldly power really lies; I have a glimpse of the new heaven and new earth where there are no tears, suffering or pain… the Lamb on the throne.

I’m part of a new nation singing a new national anthem to a ‘gracious’ and ‘noble’ king… victorious, happy, glorious… where ‘long to reign over us’ isn’t limited by human time…

I smile, through a couple of tears, with renewed hope.

Hear heaven’s voices sing
Their thunderous anthem rings
Through emerald courts and sapphire skies
Their praises rise
All glory, wisdom, power
Strength, thanks, and honour are
To God our King, who reigns on high
Forevermore.