Psalms 148:14

“A people near unto him.” 
              — Psalms 148:14

The dispensation of the old covenant was that of distance. When God
appeared even to his servant Moses, he said, “Draw not nigh hither: put
off thy shoes from off thy feet”; and when he manifested himself upon
Mount Sinai, to his own chosen and separated people, one of the first
commands was, “Thou shalt set bounds about the mount.” Both in the
sacred worship of the tabernacle and the temple, the thought of
distance was always prominent. The mass of the people did not even
enter the outer court. Into the inner court none but the priests might
dare to intrude; while into the innermost place, or the holy of holies,
the high priest entered but once in the year. It was as if the Lord in
those early ages would teach man that sin was so utterly loathsome to
him, that he must treat men as lepers put without the camp; and when he
came nearest to them, he yet made them feel the width of the separation
between a holy God and an impure sinner. When the gospel came, we were
placed on quite another footing. The word “Go” was exchanged for
“Come”; distance was made to give place to nearness, and we who
aforetime were afar off, were made nigh by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Incarnate Deity has no wall of fire about it. “Come unto me, all ye
that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” is the
joyful proclamation of God as he appears in human flesh. Not now does
he teach the leper his leprosy by setting him at a distance, but by
himself suffering the penalty of his defilement. What a state of safety
and privilege is this nearness to God through Jesus! Do you know it by
experience? If you know it, are you living in the power of it?
Marvellous is this nearness, yet it is to be followed by a dispensation
of greater nearness still, when it shall be said, “The tabernacle of
God is with men, and he doth dwell among them.” Hasten it, O Lord.

On this day…

• Mathew 24 – 2024
• Mathew 23 – 2024
• Isaiah 5 – 2023
• Isaiah 4 – 2023
• Hebrews 1:14 – 2011
• ELOI, ELOI LAMA SABACHTANI! – 2010
• THE FEAR OF GOD, AND THE PRIDE OF MAN – 2010
• CONSECRATION – 2010
• CREATION – 2010
• ARMINIANISM, CALVINISM, and the TRUTH – 2010