“At the Throne"

"At the Throne"

    The book of Job indicates that on two separate occasions, Satan arrived in the presence of God to accuse Job and challenge God to bring calamity upon His servant.  However, Scripture does not record that anyone appeared at the Throne to intercede on Job's behalf.

   "Put forth Thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse Thee to Thy face" (Job 1:11).

    God did not directly touch Job, as Satan suggested.  Instead, He submitted Job to the attacks of Satan's hand (Job 1:12; 2:5).  The man of God lost his possessions, his family, and his health as a result.  The Lord ultimately redeemed Job from the challenge, and blessed him even more greatly than before (Job 42:12).  He also included the narrative of Job in His Word to reveal much truth about Himself and our walk with the Lord amid the challenges of this present life.  As mentioned, one of those truths involves the fact that while Satan appeared in the presence of God, seeking Job's harm, no record exists of anyone appearing in God's presence for Job's benefit.  As the Lord once said of Israel, ""He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor" (Isaiah 59:16).

    Thank God that Someone now intercedes for us in the Heavenlies: "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:24).  After His death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ ascended into the Heavenlies, where "He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:25).  Our Savior now mediates for us as our great High Priest, and doubtless counters our spiritual enemies' malevolent attempts to harm the sons and daughters of God in Christ.  However, this does not preclude our own high calling to also appear in the presence of God for the work of intercession.  Our Heavenly Father calls us to join His Son, "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).  Indeed, if our enemy is still allowed to approach God in the Heavenlies, seeking our harm, we can be sure he is challenged by the pleas of the Savior on our behalf.  Moreover, the prayers of believers also bear much weight at the Throne of grace.  "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us. And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him" (I John 5:14-15).

   Again, if allowed, Satan will arrive at the Throne for his destructive purposes.  Let us be sure that we also day by day arrive there for God's purposes.  Job had no intercessor.  May that not be said of our families, friends, brothers and sisters, and all who inhabit our sphere of influence.  May we join the Lord Jesus at the Throne, and may we share the attitude of the prophet in his realization of such prayerful privilege and responsibility...

"God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you."

(I Samuel 12:23)

Weekly Memory Verse

     Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

(Psalm 85:10)