“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest,
and causest to approach unto thee.”
Psalm 65:4
Introduction:
The text speaks directly of kings and priests chosen by God to meet with Him and offer sacrifices in His temple.
The text speaks indirectly of New Testament saints, who are each and every one of them kings and priests themselves.
God created you, sustains you by His laws and Providence, and knows everything about you, but can you approach Him?
Great kings are approached very carefully, as Esther fasted and prayed before approaching Ahasuerus (Esther 4:10-17).
God Is Unapproachable
God drove Adam and Eve out of the Garden and from His Presence (Genesis 3:8, 23-24).
God warned Moses at the burning bush to remove his shoes for the holy ground (Ex 3:1-6).
God’s presence at Sinai was so terrible Israel could not bear it (Ex 20:18-21; Heb 12:18-21).
God cannot be seen and never will be seen by mere man, including Moses (Exodus 33:20).
God would not allow any priest with a physical blemish approach Him (Leviticus 21:16-24).
God would not allow the Kohathites to even come close to seeing His furniture (Nu 4:17-20).
God chose to dwell in the thick darkness and was so worshipped by Solomon (II Chron 6:1).
God will not allow the foolish to stand in His sight, for He cannot stand such (Psalm 5:5).
God’s presence is so great, that any thought of idols is vanity and insanity (Psalm 97:5-7).
God will not accept any approaching to Him unless they come in righteousness (Is 58:1-14).
God will not allow men to flee from His Presence, when He demands their presence (Jon 1:3).
God chose to leave the Gentiles without God and without hope in the world (Ephesians 2:12).
God will destroy those who obey not the gospel eternally from His Presence (II Thess 1:7-10).
God cannot be seen and dwells in a light that no man can approach unto (I Timothy 6:15-16).
God’s Presence is so terrible that the heaven and earth shall flee away from Him (Rev 20:11).
What Do We Do?
Job begged for a daysman, who would intercede on his behalf with God (Job 9:32-33).
Joshua, a young man, would not leave the place where God appeared to Moses (Ex 33:11).
Asa and all Judah sought the Lord and found Him for great blessings (II Chron 15:2,4,12-15).
We acknowledge and confess that knowing God is a great blessing and desire (Jer 9:23-24).
We claim the promise of His Word to draw nigh to Him expecting His response (James 4:8).
There Is An Answer
God raised up a man, Who engaged His Heart to approach unto God (Jeremiah 30:21).
No man has seen God, but the only begotten Son revealed Him to us (John 1:18; Col 1:15).
There is a glorious Mediator between God and man – the man Christ Jesus (I Timothy 2:5).
Jesus is now in the Presence of God in heaven to appear there for us (Hebrews 9:24).
Neither sex, nor rank, nor nationality, nor age matters in our relationship with God (Gal 3:28).
Age does not matter? Unless we come as children, we are rejected. See I Samuel 1:28.
Jesus Christ our Saviour will present us faultless before His glorious Presence (Jude 24-25).
Jesus Christ made peace with God: He reconciled us to God (II Corinthians 5:18-21).
How to Approach God
We sing, “Bold I approach the eternal throne.” Are you truly bold? And do you approach?
We must remember men like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses, who walked with God.
He is a loving Father, superior to earthly fathers, and eager to give good things (Matt 7:9-11).
Draw nigh to Him, and He will draw nigh to you (Ja 4:8). Is there a more precious promise?
We ask for Him to be close to us and draw us unto Himself (Ps 145:18; Is 58:9; John 14:23).
Consider the glorious text revealing the open way we have to God’s Presence (Heb 10:19-22).
“Having therefore,” concludes from the full and perfect redemption defined (10:10-18).
“Brethren” limits this glorious blessing to the elect and redeemed saints of God (2:13).
“Boldness” is the confident assurance we should have going to the Most High (4:15).
“Enter” is the action we should be pursuing, rather than standing at a distance outside.
“The Holiest” is the Personal Presence of God Himself literally considered (9:3,8).
“The blood of Jesus” is the means by which God is reconciled and accepts us (9:12).
“A new way” describes the contrast between Christ’s blood and that of mere animals.
“A living way” describes the living, active, perpetual nature of the new way to God.
“Which He hath consecrated” further describes the positive blessedness of the way.
“Through the veil” uses an O.T. symbol to show God opened to us by Christ’s death.
“His flesh,” and his blood previously mentioned, are the means of the new open way.
“And having an high priest” further explains the living nature of the way to God.
“Over the house of God” refers to the whole family of God in heaven and earth.
“Let us draw near” is our duty, our need, our health, our privilege, and our blessing.
“With a true heart” requires of us a sincere, honest, pure, single-minded intent (Ja 4:8).
“Full assurance of faith” rejects doubts of His sacrifice and God’s forgiveness (11:6).
“Our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience” is glorious gospel freedom from guilt and fear by the one time sprinkling of Christ’s blood for our sins (9:13-14; 13:24).
“Our bodies washed with pure water” is believer’s baptism, where a good conscience free from sin and guilt by Christ’s death and resurrection answers God (I Peter 3:21).
Conclusion:
When was the last time you prayed exclusively and passionately for God to draw nigh to you and you to Him?
My objectives are simple: (a) raise your desire, (b) exalt Christ’s priesthood, and (c) repeat your free access.
For those with serious ambitions to draw nigh to God, you should obtain the tape “Walking with God” and review it.
