Series: Draw Close to God Through Repentance

Title: Fall Down Before the Holy God

Text: Matthew 17:1-9

In ancient times, when you came before a king to make a request, you risked your life.

You would be very careful to examine yourself, so as not to offend the king:

You would make sure you were dressed properly.

You would make sure you were clean and well groomed.

You would make sure you complimented and honored the king.

You would make sure you did not say something foolish.

You would make sure your request honored the king and his kingdom.

 

The same was true even for the queen.

During the Babylonian captivity, when the Jews had been exiled to Babylon, Queen Vashti refused to obey her husband the king of Persia.

Therefore, Queen Vashti was banished from the king’s presence, never to see him again.

King Xerxes searched the entire kingdom for a new wife.

The woman he chose was one of the Jewish exiles. Her name was Esther.

Esther chapter two says,

17the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Esther 2:17 (NRSV)

He loved her!

Yet, when the Jews were threatened with genocide, she was very very careful how she approached her husband the king.

Esther chapter four says,

15Then Esther sent this reply to [her uncle] Mordecai: ¹⁶"Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Esther 4:15-16 (NIV)

When she approached the king, chapter five says,

1On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. ²When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.

Esther 5:1-2 (NIV)

I guarantee you Esther did not approach the king casually:

She did not saunter in with a cup of coffee and a croissant.

She did not come making demands.

She came boldly, but not presumptuously.

The same must be true with you and me, as we approach the High King of heaven – the King of kings, the Lord of lord.

The Book of Hebrews is the bridge book between the Old and New Testaments.

The Book of Hebrews was written to a Hebrew audience; it assumes a thorough understanding of the Old Testament sacrificial system and the ministry of the Levitical priesthood.

One of the hallmarks of the Reformation is what is known as "the priesthood of all believers":

The only intermediary we need to get to God Almighty is Jesus.

Each and every Christian can come directly before God.

We can come boldly into the very throne room of God, into the heavenly Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God himself.

 

Yet, we must never come before God casually, arrogantly, presumptively.

When Hebrews 4:16 says,

16Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16 (NRSV)

...It assumes coming before the King of kings, in accordance with the preparations demanded in the Old Testament Book of Leviticus.

 

 

When the Levitical priests ministered before God in the temple:

They wore special garments (Leviticus 8:2, 8:30, 16:4).

They had to bathe before they entered (Leviticus 16:4).

They had to offer sacrifices for the atonement of their sins (Leviticus 9:7).

The Old Testament priests didn’t casually saunter into God’s presence; they came prepared to meet a Holy God.

According to Numbers chapter 16, those few who did come before God in arrogance and defiance of God’s chosen leader Moses, were swept away in God’s wrath:

Korah and his followers were swallowed by the earth.

Others were consumed by fire.

Others died from the plague.

In sharp contrast, three times in Numbers chapter 16, Moses and Aaron humble themselves and fell down before the Lord, pleading for God’s mercy upon God’s people (Numbers 16:4, 22,& 45).

We dare not approach the King of kings casually:

Sauntering in.

Making demands.

Basking in our own self-righteousness.

No, we must come before God in humility, with confession and repentance.

As our Psalm, Psalm 99 says,

1The Lord is King; let the people tremble; he is enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth shake...

5Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One.

 

Each Sunday you and I come before King of kings. We come to His table, to receive His precious Body and Blood.

First Corinthians chapter 11 is crystal clear that we must come prepared and cleansed. First Corinthians 11:27-31, says:

27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:27-31 (NIV)

Come boldly before Gods’ throne of grace, but:

Make sure you come clean of heart – confess your sins, forgive those who’ve sinned against you.

Make sure you come in humility – Bend the knee. Bow before Him.

As Psalm 99 says, "...fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One."

As St. Augustine of Hippo once said,

"It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."

Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

In our reading from Matthew chapter 17, we read about the transfiguration of Jesus.

Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John to the top of a tall mountain to spend time speaking with the Lord in prayer:

This was not a two minute prayer.

This was not merely and hour-long prayer meeting.

This was a several day hike up into the solitude of the mountains.

This was an extended retreat from the world, an intentional time with the Lord.

As they spent time in prayer, verse two tells us, Jesus,

2...was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Matthew 17:2 (NIV)

They gained a glimpse of Jesus’ true heavenly glory.

Not only that, but Moses and Elijah appeared before them:

Moses, the most revered man of God in the entire Old Testament.

Elijah, the most respected prophet of all.

Peter was thrilled to be in the presence of such holy and famous men. So he said to Jesus,

4..."Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

Matthew 17:4 (NIV)

Peter, you missed the point!

Don’t worship your religious experiences.

Don’t worship great men of God.

Get your eyes back on the Lord!

 

Verse five,

5While [Peter] was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said,

"This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

Matthew 17:5 (NIV)

Listen to Jesus! Look to Jesus! Long for Jesus!

 

How did they respond? They finally got it right!

Verse six,

6When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
Matthew 17:6 (NIV)

When you are in the presence of the living God:

Humble yourself.

Bend the knee.

As Psalm 99 says, "...fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One."

As Oswald Chambers once said,

"The holy man is the most humble man you can meet."

Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

Come boldly before Gods’ throne of grace; come boldly to His table this morning, but do not come casually:

Come confessing your sins and forgiving those who’ve sinned against you.

Come in humility – Bending the knee, bowing before Him.

"...fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One."