the Week of Proper 24 / Ordinary 29
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Daily Devotionals
Voice of the Lord
For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as ADONAI our God is, whenever we call on him? (Deuteronomy 4:7).
Sometimes we feel far away from the Lord. We wonder if he's left us to fend for ourselves. If you're feeling that way today, it's not because God has left you. Perhaps you have moved away from him.
The Midrash (traditional commentary) on the above verse states, "Idols are near and yet distant, and the Holy One, blessed be He, is distant and yet near" (Deuteronomy Rabbah 2:10). The gods of the heathen nations are idols made of wood and stone. They are the things that people worship in place of the one true God. They are near because they are tangible, visible; you can reach out and touch them. They are near, yes, but they are also far. They are far because, when you call out to them in your time of need, they will not answer. On the other hand, the God of Israel is far but he is near. He is far because his throne is higher than the highest heaven. He is exalted above all creatures. He is far, but he is also near. He is as close to us as a word uttered in prayer. That is intimacy.
In Yeshua, we have been brought near to God's holy presence, and can lay our burdens at his feet. Prayer Focus
...draw near to the Lord in prayer and seek to experience renewed intimacy through Messiah Yeshua.
DB
The Voice of the Lord, Copyright © 1998 by the Lewis and Harriet Lederer Foundation, Inc. Published by Messianic Jewish Publishers, Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources, www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission. No part of this article may be reproduced in print or on the web, or transmitted in any form, without the written permission of the publisher.
