PRAYER is a duty to which we are not prone by nature, and even the Lord’s people, a praying people, feel their need of being exhorted to the duty and encouraged in it. It is therefore a consolation to them that it is written, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” (Heb. 4:16). Here is a call to prayer.
The place of prayer is described as the throne of grace. Of course, it is a person rather than a particular location that is referred to; it is the One who is seated upon a throne of mercy to whom we are to approach. Let us marvel that it is a throne of grace to which we are called and not a throne of judgement. God is revealing Himself as waiting to be gracious. If He were to mark iniquities against us there would be no standing for us, but He is intimating that He is ready to forgive. Some are of the opinion that the phrase, “throne of grace”, alludes to the mercy seat, of which God said to the Israelites, “There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee…” And is not God saying to us today, “Draw near to me, and I will draw near to you”?
The term “throne” indicates that it is a sovereign whom we approach. He is “King of nations”, “God over all, blessed forever”. Great reverence becomes us in our approaches to Him. “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him,” Psalm 89:7.
At the same time, (and this is very wonderful), we may come “boldly”, that is, freely and in faith, pouring out our hearts unto Him, as a child to a father – the very opposite of that unholy boldness and irreverent familiarity which characterises many public prayers in our day. The word “boldly” shows that we are to come with trust, believing “that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him,” and that His rewards are great. As someone has said:
“Thou art coming to a King;
large petitions with thee bring.”
Pouring out our heart to Him means taking our every concern and request to him, not forgetting to bless His holy name for His gracious benefits already bestowed upon us. Pouring out our hearts means that we spread out our cares, sorrows and needs before Him as King Hezekiah spread before Him the letter of evil words sent to him by his enemy. Pouring out our hearts means this too: that we be completely honest and sincere with regard to our sins and faults.
Surely it is mercy which we need to obtain most of all. Our iniquities testify against us. “All we like sheep have gone astray,” and we go astray day by day. Not a day passes but we have reason to pray, “Forgive us this day our trespasses.” It ought to be an encouragement to a sin-burdened soul that God upon His throne is not only a holy and glorious sovereign, but also is “rich in mercy and ready to forgive.” God’s mercy is greater than we can never comprehend. He reveals in His Word that His mercy is “great above the heavens”, and “from everlasting to everlasting.”
How great also is our need of grace. To the throne of grace we must go to “find grace to help in time of need”. While we have various and many needs every day (and therefore we are to pray always and not to faint), there are times of special need. There is the “day of trouble”. Let there be no delay in going to pray in such a day. God says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Go to the throne of grace, and you will have reason to say, sooner or later, “The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble, and he knoweth them that trust in Him.”
There are times when we are weighed down by a burden of responsibility and particularly onerous duties. Feeling our weakness and inadequacy we cannot but say, “Who is sufficient for these things?” It is certain that if we take our burden to the Lord that He will sustain us. Who was as burdened as the Apostle was, who had the “care of all the churches”? Yet he said, “I can do all things…” But how?… through Christ who strengtheneth me.” He went to the throne of grace, trusting in the One who said, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” He could boldly say, “The Lord is my helper.” Let us go to the throne of grace in all our weakness, for “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
The child of God, although already in a state of grace, and in possession of grace, learns more and more his need of a continuous supply of grace. In the Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian saw in the house of Interpreter, a fire burning against a wall and someone pouring water on the fire, but it burned higher. He saw the reason for this when he was shown a man behind the wall secretly pouring oil on the fire. So, however much the devil may try to extinguish the work of grace in the heart of a believer it will increase because the Lord, with the oil of His grace, maintains that work. So the believer is of this mind: “I must frequent the throne of grace so that I may obtain increase of the graces of faith, hope, love, repentance, patience, and the fear of the Lord.” Then he will also be savouring the sweetness of this truth, “But he giveth more grace.” Let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may… find grace.”
We are to note that this is a word of encouragement also for those who are not yet in a state of grace. There is no doubt about the welcome which awaits a poor sinner who cries for mercy at the throne of grace. The great lesson taught us by the parable of the prodigal son is surely this, as Gresham Machen says, that “God rejoices at the salvation of a sinner.” Matthew Henry, in commenting on the parable, says that it “intimates God’s desire of the conversion of sinners, and His readiness to meet them that are coming toward him.” Henry continues along these lines, “Here were eyes of mercy, ‘When he was a great way off his father saw him’. Here were bowels of mercy, ‘He had compassion’. Here were feet of mercy, ‘He ran’. Here were arms of mercy, “He fell on his neck”. Here were lips of mercy, ‘He kissed him’.”
The verse reads, “…therefore, let us come…”, that is, as the previous verse shows, on account of the person and work of the mediatorial high priest Jesus Christ. He, by His atoning death at Calvary, has opened up the way of access to God. Let us come therefore, in His name and pleading His merits, that we may obtain mercy and find grace.