By Emmanuel Egbunu

The Psalmist writes in Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the LORD’" [NKJV]. This has inspired many Christian pilgrims through the ages to make their way to the sanctuary dedicated to the worship of God. Those who have gone with a true heart of worship have come to that conclusion expressed in yet another Psalm (16:11) “Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” [KJV].

Approaching God appropriately is the most important consideration in developing intimacy with Him. The manner of our approach to the divine majesty depends on our idea of who He is. Much casual approach to God is the bane of present day Christianity. Whether it is in approaching God as individuals, or as families, or as congregations in corporate worship, we need to come to terms with the fact that this majestic God dwells in unapproachable light.

In preparing the Israelites for His visitation shortly after the Exodus event, He told Moses (Ex 19:10-13), "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes and be ready by the third day, because on that day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. He shall surely be stoned or shot with arrows; not a hand is to be laid on him. Whether man or animal, he shall not be permitted to live.” 

He is the One whom Moses and the Israelites encountered at the flaming Mount Sinai on the day He came down: Ex 19:16-22 – “On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.  Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.  Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, the whole mountain trembled violently, and the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder. Then Moses spoke and the voice of God answered him.  The LORD descended to the top of Mount Sinai and called Moses to the top of the mountain. So Moses went up and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perished. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them." This is not mere Bible quoting. We desperately need the biblical perspective to purge our minds and instruct us about the majesty of our God to whom the hymn writer addressed his song, “How Great Thou Art!”

In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah asked, “With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?” (Micah 6:6-8).

It is indeed true that the coming of Christ as Man (The Incarnation) has brought God close to us, but it does not eliminate the fact of His majesty, and the glory and adoration due to Him. Yes, indeed, Christ has granted us access to the Father’s presence as we read in Heb 10:19-24, “we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, ... we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

When we approach God’s presence – whether in private or public worship, in village huts, under trees, in cosy living rooms or air-conditioned Cathedrals, we must focus on the One whom we worship. As the writer of Hebrews tells us, ‘You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded: "If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned."  The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, "I am trembling with fear...  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Heb 12:18-27).

The hymn writer, John Newton writes,

Approach, my soul, the mercy-seat

Where Jesus answers prayer

There humbly fall before His feet

For none can perish there.