The universal word expressing agreement is the word, amen. The word is the same in any language and used frequently in the Bible.
Psalm 106:48 (ESV) — 48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!
People used to say “amen” when a preacher would say something that struck a cord of agreement in their soul. Today, that practice seems to be frowned upon because people think the preacher will be distracted. There was an old preacher who commented on that and said that a preacher would not be distracted by an amen, rather that amen would be like words of encouragement.
When the children of Israel entered the promised land, they were instructed to read the law, particularly the curses and the blessings that God had stated. As each one was read, the people were instructed to say amen as to express their agreement.
When the people returned from Babylonian captivity, Nehemiah and Ezra made sure the people were instructed in the law of God, and as they worshipped God they expressed their agreement to words of adoration of God by saying amen..
Nehemiah 8:6 (ESV) — 6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
The Lord Jesus Christ taught His disciples to pray and the conclusion of the prayer is amen. Amen is the affirmation of agreement when prayer is offered so that Paul makes a point to the fact that prayer needs to be understood, otherwise how can people present say “amen.”
1 Corinthians 14:16 (ESV) — 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
The verses that conclude Romans chapter 11 end with a crescendo of praise to God, which of course concluded with amen.
Romans 11:33–36 (ESV) — 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Saying amen seems an appropriate response as an agreement with what has been said, especially as it pertains to descriptions of God, His word, and our requests in prayer.
No wonder then when you consider the word amen, the Lord Jesus Christ is described as “the Amen” of God.
Revelation 3:14 (ESV) — 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) — 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
And the only response appropriate to that is a hearty amen.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker
