God Is Far and Near [Job 23]

    3"Oh that I knew where I might find Him,
         That I might come to His seat!
    4"I would present my case before Him
         And fill my mouth with arguments.
    5"I would learn the words which He would answer,
         And perceive what He would say to me.
    6"Would He contend with me by the greatness of His power?
         No, surely He would pay attention to me.
    7"There the upright would reason with Him;
         And I would be delivered forever from my Judge.

Job had a good understanding of the transcendent or distant aspect of God's character. However, his grasp of God's immanent or nearness was sorely lacking. He longed for intimacy with God, but it eluded him because of his lopsided view of God. God is both near and far to us. As our Judge and Righteous God, he is impartial and distant and uncompromising. However, He is also near to us through His love and compassion for us. You can see both of these qualities of God throughout the Bible. However, as New Testament Christians, the immanence of God is clearly demonstrated and manifest through the gospel of Jesus and the giving of the indwelling Spirit. Job did not have that clear understanding of God's nearness, but he did recognize his need for it and longed for it.

We praise You, God, that you are both far and near to us. Cause us to embrace the totality of who You are even though our minds have a hard time containing the thought that you are these seemingly two opposite extremes. Enable us to worship the true and living God.
Beth Warlick, 1/28/2011