Devotional: The Era of Nearness

[I have enjoyed the Morning and Evening devotionals of the late 1800’s Particular Baptist preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, but find them a bit archaic in presentation. So I have re-written them in more modern fashion for modern ears, in some cases even modifying them.

He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones—the people of Israel who are close to him. (Psalm 148:14)

The dispensation of the old covenant was one of distance. When God appeared even to his servant Moses, he said, “Draw not near here: put off your shoes from off your feet”; and when he manifested himself upon Mount Sinai, to his own chosen and separated people, one of the first commands was, “You shall set bounds about the mount.” Both in the sacred worship of the tabernacle and the temple, the thought of distance was always prominent. The majority of the people did not even enter the outer court of the Tabernacle or Temple. 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 before were afar off, were made near by the blood of Jesus Christ. Incarnate Deity has no wall of fire about it. “Come to me, all you that labor 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?

Marvelous 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.