What does pastor mean when he quotes the phrase, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”?

We can go back to a command of God to ancient Israel. “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them” (Ex. 25:8). God wanted a sanctuary. This was a place for God to dwell. God required the people to construct this dwelling place.

A sanctuary is a holy place. It is a place set aside from the world, from secular or profane use, to special use. That use is worship.

Picture the tabernacle in the desert: white linen curtains circumscribed the outer court measuring 150 feet by 75 feet. The tabernacle proper, 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, stood within this court. The outer coverings included ram’s skins dyed red (Ex 26:14). This covering, probably lifted in fair weather, left a portion of the tabernacle’s gold-covered framework visible.

The entrance to both the outer court and the tabernacle proper was a curtain of blue and purple and scarlet. The tabernacle’s white, gold, blue, purple, and scarlet was a stunning sight in the desert sun. It was distinct and unique.

This sanctuary was a place for God to dwell—but God is present everywhere. God does not manifest Himself in the same way in every place and at every time.

Psalm 139:8 gives ample testimony of this: “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (KJV). God is present in heaven, not in wrath but in love. God is present in hell, not to love but to punish. God promises to be present among His people and to dwell in His tabernacle as the God of the covenant fulfilling His covenant love (Lev. 26:11–12).

The word translated dwell is significant. It is the Hebrew verb meaning to tabernacle. It is the root for the Hebrew term shekinah referring to the shekinah glory of God. This shekinah glory is the tabernacled glory of God.

God desires to dwell, or tabernacle. in glory among His people. This reminds us of John 1:14. “And the Word became flesh. and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Exodus 25:8 gives us another signifi­cant point. “Let them construct a sanctu­ary for Mc, that I may dwell among them.” God required His people to build Him a sanctuary-distinct from the world -in which His special presence would dwell.

There is a link here to the church. The tabernacle in the wilderness gave way to the temple in Jerusalem. Then the Apostle Paul applies God’s promise to dwell among His people to the church. “For we are the temple of the living God: just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them’ ” (2 Cor. 6:16. Ex. 25:8, Lev. 26:1.2).

Here is the confluence of God’s plans for His Church. God charges us as His people to build a sanctuary, that is, to assemble for worship, where He may dwell in glory and fulfill His covenant love among us. This is the typical, prophetic, and covenantal fulfillment of Exodus 25:8.

In our worship, we gather to ascribe honor, praise, and glory to God who alone is worthy. As we do so, we build a sanctuary, distinct from the world, where God promises His special presence. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (Jas. 4:8).

What are we waiting for? “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving” (Ps. 95:2).