Longing for His Presence: Gathered at His Throne

 Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - Thursday: Longing for His Presence

Longing for His Presence

Read Joshua 18:1–2.

When Joshua paused the allotment of the land, it was for a sacred reason: to gather the tribes before the Lord at Shiloh, where the tabernacle—the symbol of God’s presence—was set up. Before settling into their inheritance, Israel needed to draw near to God, to seek His guidance, and to be reminded that the land was not just a possession but a gift from His hand. Their success was never merely about territory; it was about relationship and worship. In calling the tribes together, Joshua demonstrated a truth still vital today: every step forward in life must begin in the presence of God.

As Christians, we do not have an earthly sanctuary containing the physical presence of God. Yet our hope is not less real—indeed, it is greater. Hebrews tells us that Jesus has entered a better sanctuary for us, “as a forerunner” (Hebrews 6:19–20). He did not enter with the blood of animals but with His own perfect sacrifice (Hebrews 9:11–12). Because of His ministry, we have “boldness to enter the Holiest” by His blood (Hebrews 10:19–23). The longing Israel felt as they gathered around the tabernacle is the same longing God invites us to bring before Him—except we now approach through a living Savior in a heavenly sanctuary.

Joshua teaches us not to rush into our inheritance—our blessings, our plans, our work—without pausing to seek the One who gives them. Israel gathered at Shiloh; we gather at the throne of grace. Their sanctuary was made with hands; ours is eternal. They saw the cloud and the fire; we cling to the hope anchored in Christ beyond the veil.

And yet, our longing is not fully satisfied. We still journey. We still wait. But the day is coming when longing will give way to seeing, when faith will become sight, and when Christ Himself will dwell among His people. On that day, no temple will be needed, “for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (Revelation 21:22). Until then, we enter His presence by faith, draw near with confidence, and fix our hearts on the hope set before us.

Final Prayer
Lord, thank You that through Christ we can draw near to Your presence with confidence and hope. Teach us to pause before You, like Israel at Shiloh, seeking Your guidance before we move ahead in life. Anchor our hearts in Jesus, our High Priest and our hope. And stir in us a longing for the day when You will dwell among us forever and no sanctuary will be needed again. Until then, keep us faithful, worshipful, and near to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reverence in the Presence of God

 

Reverence in the Presence of God

Text: Exodus 19:9–25; Hebrews 4:16

When Israel stood at Mount Sinai, God prepared them to receive His holy law. They were told to wash their clothes, consecrate themselves, and even set boundaries around the mountain. Thunder, lightning, and the sound of a trumpet filled the air. All of this was meant to teach the people reverence—a deep sense of awe before the Almighty.

Today, we must ask ourselves: in our church life, where is that same sense of reverence? Have we perhaps lost it in our casual age? Or do we still come before the Lord with hearts filled with awe and respect?

The Purpose of Preparation

God’s instructions at Sinai were not simply about outward rituals. They were meant to shape the people’s hearts, to remind them that they were approaching the Holy One. The washing, the waiting, the trembling—all pointed to the fact that God is not to be taken lightly.

In our worship today, we no longer prepare with those same external rituals, but the principle remains. Do we take time to prepare our hearts before worship? Or do we rush in casually, forgetting that we are entering the presence of the King of kings?

Jesus Broke Down the Barriers

At Sinai, boundaries were set around the mountain: “Do not come near.” But when Jesus came, He tore the veil in the temple from top to bottom. The message was clear: through Christ, we now have access to the very throne of God.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence.” No longer do we tremble in fear at the base of the mountain; we are welcomed as children into the Father’s presence. Christ removed the barriers, not so that reverence would vanish, but so that awe could now be joined with intimacy.

Outward and Inward Reverence

Some may ask: does reverence mean we must always wear our finest clothing? Not necessarily. God has always looked upon the heart. David was chosen over his brothers because, as 1 Samuel 16:7 reminds us, “Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Yet there is nothing wrong with desiring to look our best for church. Dressing with care can be a reflection of respect. But true reverence is not in polished shoes or pressed clothes—it is in humble hearts, lifted in worship, seeking God with sincerity.

Recovering Reverence in Our Churches

Have we lost the sense of awe? Sometimes church can feel routine—songs, announcements, sermons—until we forget that God Himself is present with His people. Reverence is not stiffness, nor is it empty formality. Reverence is a posture of the soul that says: “God is here, and He is holy.”

We recover reverence by preparing our hearts before we gather, by treating worship as sacred, by coming not as consumers but as worshipers. When we sing, we sing as if before His throne. When we pray, we pray as children speaking to their Father. When we listen to His Word, we lean in as though God Himself were addressing us.

Coming Boldly as We are

The Israelites trembled at Sinai, but we come boldly to the throne of grace. Yet boldness does not cancel reverence—it deepens it. We stand in awe, not out of fear, but out of love, because the God of holiness is also the God of mercy.

So let us come as we are, through Christ. Let us come with hearts prepared, with spirits humble, with a renewed sense of awe. For the God who gave His law is the same God who gave His Son, and He is worthy of our deepest reverence. Amen.