There is a reason why John, in Revelation 4, described God's majesty with symbols of diamonds, gems and rubies. Such extravagant stones catch our gaze with their brilliance and captivating charm. They touch that part of us that cries out for something of worth, something that leave us mystified and in awe. The Almighty God shines brighter than any diamond; He holds a depth far from any ruby, and splendor no gem could compete with.

Revelation 4:3 describes an emerald rainbow that encircles the throne of God. This rainbow gives us a picture of God's complete and encompassing glory, and the promise that will hold for eternity. The emerald like glory represents His depth of kindness and how he walks out and acts out in tender mercies. It reveals the aspect of God’s new covenant promises and His faithfulness in bringing them to pass. When we read of an emerald rainbow that encircles the throne in Heaven we immediately think of the story of Noah, the rainbow displaying God’s promise to never again flood the earth. Though it still represents the promise made, we tend to leave it at that, neglecting the attributes of God that would move Him to do so. The rainbow has been around the throne forever, with Noah, God chose to reveal His heart towards those who obey.

 

God is filled with kindness towards those who love Him in return. This divine clemency is uncovered in an “emerald glory” in order for us to receive it with understanding. The rainbow surrounds Him and is poured out to surround us as well. Though this emerald glory radiates from God and encases the throne it is directed at us. God is faithful to us. God is merciful to us. God is kind to us.

“The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8-9). The way a rainbow sits in the sky above us, casting a shadow of color above, so it is with God’s emerald rainbow of kindness. His glorious mercy exceeds His judgment—though that also is a display of His great love—and His beautiful acts towards us far surpasses His anger.

 

It seems so simple to say that God is kind, merciful and tender but these aspects that make up His emerald glory transcend the simple and leave those who set their minds on these things mystified. Why has the Eternal One so kindly bestowed on a broken and defiled people His tender mercies and loving-kindness? Why has He chosen the lowly to lavish His bright and shining glory? It remains a mystery. He is clothed in mystery and thus His every facet is arrayed in it. We can’t fully comprehend the beauty of a valuable stone nor can we grasp the mystery of a perfect God pouring out his brilliant mercy on the imperfect. But in this mystery we find the assurance of our souls, as is stated so clearly in Isaiah 55:9, which says, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts”.

His mercy and kindness extend to the ends of the earth and they are poured out on us. Though we cannot understand why, we must accept the embrace of such a mystery. The Creator of Heaven and Earth is a tender God and has an unending capacity for kindness, and that alone is incommunicable in its divine mystery. An emerald has a rich capacity for brilliance and some how that pictures reflects to us the brilliance of God's capacity. His promises are set over His throne and radiate over us in the goodness of His will.

 

In so many instances we get a warped view of God. We see Him as this far off, unemotional, uninvolved “Big Man upstairs” who sits in Heaven with constant disapproval in His eyes ready to damn us to hell when we fall short. But in truth God is the exact opposite. He delights in us, He is enthralled by us. Our Heavenly Father looks down on us with eyes full of love, His heart moving in tenderness towards us. The Throne Room picture in its entirety reveals the glory of who God really is and what he feels when He looks at fallen humanity. The emerald aspect of his majesty shows us His goodwill and his gentleness all directed towards us. His brilliance is like an arrow of light aimed at humanity and ready to penetrate what paradigms of Him we may hold with the glory of his affection.

“Through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79) In the glory of His mercy and kindness we find refuge from the chaos of this fleeting life. We gain confidence with the revelation of God’s mercy for it is tender. We gain assurance with the revelation of His kindness for it is loving. It depends on the posture of our hearts; if we are aligned to accept this indescribable affection we are pulled into the loving arms of His covenant of peace with us. Nothing can compare, nothing can tear us away from it. The peace that passes all understanding will rule and reign in our hearts and in our minds.

 

"For the mountains shall depart the hills be removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall my covenant of peace be removed,' says  the LORD, who has mercy on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

 

His emerald like glory shines light into the dark places and secures us with transcendent love. It will hold us firm as we hide under the shelter of His wing; that rainbow of promise set over us.