My God is Near
Let’s finish our look at God’s character as revealed in Psalm 145 by going to verse 18 which says this: “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
I love the Shrek movies (well, the first and second ones at least), and there’s a scene in Shrek 2 that you might remember. Shrek’s wife Fiona is on a terrace in a building across from him, and Shrek is banging on a window trying to get her attention, going “Fiona! Fiona! Fiona!” She doesn’t hear, and on she goes with her business.
Sometimes, if I’m honest, my prayer life can feel like that. I seem to be banging away trying to get God’s attention but it seems like he’s out of reach and out of earshot, doing his own thing and not hearing my screams.
But that’s not true! When I think like that, I believe it’s because the enemy has blinded me to the truth, the truth that we read in today’s verse that God is near to all who call on Him in truth.
God's Faithful Presence
Derek Kidner, in his commentary on this verse says that “the symbolism of the word near is not confined to the thought of being within earshot, but may include that of the closeness of friends”. So when you call on God, He is a faithful friend, drawing near to you to listen closely and encourage you.
I’ve said it often, but I’ll say it again: the great hope of the Christian is not that God will protect you from harm – it’s that God will get you through harm. That’s an important distinction. Many people are wrongly taught that if they give their lives to Jesus, everything will just get better. But the teaching of the Bible is that when you give your life to Jesus, you will have a companion through the ups and downs of life. It is this that is our hope – God’s promise to be near even if we go through hardships.
Do you remember Psalm 23? David said “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” – why? “For You are with me.” David knew that even in dark valleys, he was not alone. God was near. And perhaps you need to hold to this today. That through your dark valley, God is near. That when you call out, he hears because He is right at your side.
Exalt and Praise
So call on Him! Lean on Him! Don’t think that He is too busy or too distracted or just disinterested in you. He is near. And if you will take the time to speak your heart to Him in prayer, and grab hold of Him in faith, oh you will find a great peace for your heart that nothing else can bring.
Psalm 145 reminded me this week that my God is great. He is gracious and compassionate. He is good to all, and trustworthy. And He is near through it all.
Now, let’s do what the first two verses of this Psalm call us to do: exalt Him and praise His name, for being such an incredible, worthy, wonderful God.
