Near

What does it mean for God to be near?

Exegetical Idea:

Transcendence (God exists outside of space and time) and immanence (God is present within space and time) are both attributes of God.

He is both “nearby” and “far away,” according to Jeremiah 23:23.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). That is God’s transcendence.

“In him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). That is God’s immanence.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Those who devise wicked schemes are near, But they are far from your law. Yet you are near, O LORD, And all your commands are true. (Ps. 119:150-51)2