Worship

Part 2 - Draw Near in Worship

What does pastor mean, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you"? We go back to a command of God to ancient Israel. "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8). God wanted a sanctuary. This was a place for God to dwell. God required the people to construct this dwelling place. A sanctuary is a holy place. It is a place set aside from the world, from secular or profane use, to special use. The use is worship.

Picture the tabernacle in the desert. White linen curtains circumscribed the outer court measuring one hundred fifty feet by seventy-five feet. The tabernacle proper, thirty feet long and fifteen feet wide, stood within this court. The outer coverings included ram's skins died red (Exodus 26:14). This covering, probably exposed in fair weather, left a portion of the tabernacle's gold covered framework exposed. The entrance to both the outer court and the tabernacle proper was a curtain of blue and purple and scarlet. The tabernacle's white, gold, blue, purple, and scarlet was a stunning sight in the desert sun. It was distinct and unique.

This sanctuary was a place for God to dwell. God is present everywhere. God does not manifest Himself in the same way in every place and at every time. Psalm 139:8 gives ample testimony. "If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there" (KJV). God is present in heaven, not in wrath but in love. God is present in hell not to love but to punish. God promises to be present among His people and to dwell in His tabernacle as the God of the covenant fulfilling His covenant love (Leviticus 26:11-12).

The word translated dwell is significant. It is the Hebrew verb shakan meaning to tabernacle. It is the root for the Hebrew term shekinah referring to the shekinah glory of God. This shekinah glory is the tabernacled glory of God. God desires to dwell or tabernacle in glory among His people. This reminds us of John 1:14. "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Exodus 25:8 gives us another significant point. "Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them." God required His people to build Him a sanctuary distinct from the world in which His special presence would dwell. There is a link to the church. The tabernacle in the wilderness gave way to the temple in Jerusalem. The apostle Paul applies God's promise to dwell among His people to the church. "For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, 'I will dwell in them and walk among them'" (2 Corinthians 6:16, Exodus 25:8, Leviticus 26:12).

Here is the confluence of God's plans for His church. God charges us as His people to build a sanctuary, that is, to build churches, assemblies of worship, where He may dwell in glory and fulfill His covenant love among us. This is the typical, prophetical, and covenantal fulfillment of Exodus 25:8. In our worship, we gather to ascribe honor, praise, and glory to God who alone is worthy. As we do so, we build a sanctuary, distinct from the world, where God promises His special presence. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). What are we waiting for? "Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving" (Psalm 95:2).