Drawing near to God

Under the old covenant, coming near to God was closely linked with the sacrificial system, but under the new covenant Jesus Christ's sacrifice has given believers free access into God's presence.

Drawing near to God under the old covenant

Access to God was restricted

Exodus 24:1–2 See also Exodus 19:20–24, Exodus 20:18–19; Leviticus 21:21; Deuteronomy 5:22–27; Psalm 65:4

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD — you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders — and you are to worship at a distance. Moses alone shall approach the LORD, but the others must not come near. And the people may not go up with him.”

Priests drew near to God in order to minister to him

Ezekiel 44:15 See also Leviticus 10:1–3; Ezekiel 40:46, Ezekiel 42:13, Ezekiel 43:19, Ezekiel 45:4

But the Levitical priests, who are descended from Zadok and who kept charge of My sanctuary when the Israelites went astray from Me, are to approach Me to minister before Me. They will stand before Me to offer Me fat and blood, declares the Lord GOD.

The people drew near to God to offer worship

Leviticus 15:13–15 See also Leviticus 9:1–5; Psalm 96:8, Psalm 100:2–4; Micah 6:6–8

When the man has been cleansed from his discharge, he must count off seven days for his cleansing, wash his clothes, and bathe himself in fresh water, and he shall be clean. On the eighth day he is to take two turtledoves or two young pigeons, come before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and give them to the priest. The priest is to sacrifice them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for the man before the LORD because of his discharge.

Drawing near to God under the new covenant

Hebrews 10:19–22 See also 1 Corinthians 8:8; Hebrews 7:11–19, Hebrews 10:1–10

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

God prompts his people to draw near to him

Isaiah 55:1–3 See also Isaiah 55:6–7; Jeremiah 3:21–4:2

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you without money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why spend money on that which is not bread, and your labor on that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of foods. Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant — My loving devotion promised to David.

Some refuse to draw near to God

Zephaniah 3:2 See also Jeremiah 2:30–31

She heeded no voice; she accepted no correction. She does not trust in the LORD; she has not drawn near to her God.

All people will ultimately draw near to God

Israel

Jeremiah 31:6 See also Jeremiah 30:21–22; Hosea 3:4–5

For there will be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!’”

All nations

Isaiah 66:22–23

“For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me,” declares the LORD, “so your descendants and your name will endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come to worship before Me,” says the LORD.

God draws near to those who draw near to him

James 4:8 See also Psalm 145:18; Jeremiah 3:22, Jeremiah 30:21–22; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; Hebrews 7:19

Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.