Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
What comes to mind when you think of a throne? Kings, queens, castles? Perhaps you play a video game or watch a show where thrones are involved. In simple terms, a throne is a chair where the leader of a kingdom sits, but it represents power, authority, and judgment. Whatever the person on the throne says is law--sometimes for good and sometimes not, but who is going to tell them what's right or wrong? Who's going to tell them how to run the kingdom?
In our modern, more democratic world, this kind of rule may seem mainly fictional--for books, movies, or games but not a way of life. History class may help us see and understand how societies of the past functioned this way, and some still do today, but you probably have a difficult time imagining what it would be like to live under strict dictatorship. But in Bible Times, this was largely the reality of the common people. Unless you were a member of a royal family or wealthy, you had little say in how the world functioned around you. Protesting or speaking up for what you believed would likely get you put in prison or killed.
I say all that to put the words at the top of the page in context. The Book of Hebrews was written to people who were accustomed to being ruled by those who had ultimate authority. The Hebrews (Jews) were either ruled by their own kings or by whoever ruled the kingdoms that had overtaken their land; and while there were some good kings in Israel's history, most of them were not good. People were often treated harshly, unfairly, or as if they didn't exist. To approach any throne and be heard was unthinkable, much like it would be today in a free society if I tried to see a president or monarch without an invitation or appointment.
So when the writer who sent this letter says,
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, that would have been very different than the way the people usually thought about kings and thrones and kingdoms. Even approaching a throne room would have been unthinkable, let alone to come with confidence and boldly ask for mercy. For some this may have seemed perplexing. And depending on how you have been raised and your experience with God, it may sound that way to you as well. Personally, I was taught as a young child that I could come to God at any time with my prayers, and I did, and I've seen the truth of this verse--that I will always receive mercy and grace from God.
But what is grace? When we come to God, what can we expect to receive? Mercy is forgiveness for things we have done wrong, or help when we have fallen into circumstances where we're at the end of our rope. Without God's intervention and direct help, we will not survive, but He promises mercy to all who ask. Grace is a bit different. It's not just about being forgiven or rescued from peril, but also includes the ways God wants to bless us--to go above and beyond meeting basic needs to things that make life enjoyable, satisfying, purposeful, and good.
Grace can take many forms, and it's God's prerogative to determine what is best for each person. He is in charge, but it's not a type of rule we need to be worried about or afraid of. We can always trust Him to give us what we need and act in our best interests. We can rest in His love and goodness. I have gone to God many times asking for one thing and ended up with something else, but that's a part of His grace. He doesn't always give me what I ask for, but rather what I truly need.
And one of the greatest gifts of grace is already mine each time I go to His gracious throne--which is literally anywhere I cry out to Him. I don't have to go to a special place to be in His presence because He is always with me. And to lay my burdens and concerns and requests before Him, to climb up on His lap and sit with Him and know I am safe there, I am loved, and I am His precious child: Is there anyplace greater than that?
