NOTES: God is Near, Part 1
Sermon: God is Near: Learning Proximity
Date: Sunday, September 1
Text: Deuteronomy 4:5–9
Deut. 4:5-9“5 See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? 8 And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today? 9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—“
Let’s Connect:
Learning proximity:
Text Explained:
Elder Moses’ words to the people of Israel:
7 For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? “
The answer is: “…no other God”…because God is other!
Israel’s formation in Egypt:
Israel had much to learn and unlearn about God’s nearness to His children.
A. W. Tozer - “Left to ourselves we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms.”
His nearness can not be separated from His otherness.
God demonstrated this in the wilderness at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 19-20)
Self-revelation distinguishes God from all other gods.
God allowed Israel to see and hear his otherness in order to teach them relational reverence — Sadly, Israel used it as an excuse for relational distance.
Ephesians 2:13, “13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Cf. Hebrews 10:19–23)
We can’t obey our way into His presence; it is graced to us by the blood of Christ.
Our behaviors don’t determine his nearness—but will affect how we experience it.
The Take Out:
9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children—“
Keep your soul diligently:
Our Challenge:
Practice proximity!
Revelation 21:3–5, “3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”