Psalm 119:151 – Near

You are near, LORD,
and your commands are true.

One of the interesting paradoxes of Christian theology is the God who is at once very near and also distant. Personal and accessible, yet so far above as to be incomprehensible.

Paul talks refers to this in calling us to “know the lover of Christ which surpasses knowledge” (Ephesians 3:19). We have many such paradoxes in Christianity, including what I consider the most critical one, the incarnation. Jesus is 100% human and 100% God, and yet is one person.

In Deuteronomy 30:11-14, the law is described as being near. It’s not in heaven, inaccessible, or beneath the sea, also inaccessible. It’s there. It’s available. It’s not too difficult or beyond our reach. And yet the story of scripture is, in many was, the story of people failing to keep the law, even in the most basic sense.

Yet again the Psalmist speaks of God having knowledge that is too wonderful for him, beyond his grasp (Psalm 139:6).

What I see here is God’s presence in our lives, working out divine purposes in and through us. It’s accessible, to the extent we can comprehend it, but one of the things we should comprehend is that we don’t comprehend fully. We comprehend enough for our lives. We comprehend enough to know there is much beyond our comprehension.

It’s not a bad idea to realize the limitations of our knowledge. In fact, it’s a very good idea.

Think today of things that you don’t understand. Then imagine a future in which you comprehend more, bit by bit.

What little bit will you add to your store of knowledge today?