Since we have such a great High Priest in heaven as the Lord Jesus Christ is, one who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Here is a call to prayer that tugs at the hearts of all who need mercy and grace. What a gracious, blessed admonition this is!
I do not pretend to know much about prayer; but I do know what God has taught me and is teaching me. Prayer is one of the most important aspects of every believer’s life. Yet, it is one with which we struggle constantly. It is a subject about which there is enormous confusion, even among God’s elect. I cannot think of a single text in Scripture which gives us more encouragement and reason to pray than Hebrews 4:16.
When we approach God on his throne, we rejoice to know that his throne, that throne upon which God our Savior sits, from which he rules the universe is "The throne of grace."
Once it was called "the mercy seat," but now "the throne." In drawing near to God in prayer, we come to God upon the throne. No one approaches God who does not approach him upon the throne. He who is God almighty is that great and glorious Monarch of the universe who sits upon the throne of total, absolute sovereignty.
“When God enacts laws, he is on a throne
of legislation: when he administers these laws he is on a throne of government:
when he tries his creatures by these laws, he is on a throne of judgment, but
when he receives petitions, and dispenses favors, he is on a throne of grace.” (William Jay)
The idea of a throne inspires awe, bordering upon terror. It repels rather than invites. Few of us could approach it without trembling. Yet, here is the throne of the King of kings and Lord of lords, the scepter of total sovereignty, absolute holiness, and immutable justice. Before this great King the greatest earthly monarch that ever wore a crown is but a worm. Before him, all the nations of men are less than nothing and vanity. How dares any sinful man approach him who is infinite majesty? Blessed be his name, we come to him upon his throne, because he sits upon a throne of grace. Therefore, we are allowed, and even commanded, to come to it boldly.
Prayer is coming to God upon his throne. If we would come to God, we must come to him as a King. We must bow before him with reverence, confidence, and submission. Faith, in its essence and in all its exercises, is surrender to the Lord God as our great King.
In prayer we come to this great King as to One who gives as a King. We ask great things from the great King. We ask great things with expectation, because he is as magnanimously good as he is great. We ask great things, because he is infinitely rich in grace and in power (Phil. 4:19). He who is our God and King, remember, sits upon a “throne of grace.” This King sits on his throne on purpose, specifically to dispense grace. It is his design, his object in displaying himself as King, to dispense grace.
It is in hearing the prayers of the needy and dispensing grace to them that our God and King is honored and glorified. It is upon his throne of grace that God our Savior is revealed in his glory.
You will remember that this throne of grace is that which Isaiah saw (Isa. 6). It was typified in the mercy-seat, which was upon the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament, where atonement was made. This is what John beheld in Revelation 4 and 5, where he saw the Lamb that had been slain.
When he saw the throne of God and of the Lamb, he saw the rainbow encircling the throne, declaring that every act of the throne is according to God’s covenant of grace represented in the rainbow. He saw the book of God, the book of God’s decrees, full, complete, and sealed. Then, he saw the Lord Jesus Christ, the crucified Lamb of God rise up in the midst of the throne. He saw the God-man take the book and open it. He it is who is the center of all those decrees. He it is who opens and fulfils them in providence (Rev. 5:9-14).
It is here, in Christ, the crucified Lamb of God, sitting upon the throne, that we behold God’s majesty and mercy, his justice and his grace, his truth and his goodness (Ex. 25:17-18, 22; Heb. 9:1-12; 10:19-22).
The Lord God to whom we come and before whom we bow in prayer, even in hearing prayer, acts as a sovereign, but whose sovereignty is the sovereignty of grace. It is to this throne, the throne of the great God, that poor sinners are bidden to come. Oh, what a privilege this is! All who come to the throne of grace have free audience with the King of Grace!
Let us, therefore, come boldly to God upon the throne, through the merits and mediation of Christ, our great High Priest. Come “boldly,” that is to say, freely, without fear, pouring out our hearts to our heavenly Father. Come with reverence, as before God our King; but come boldly, with all the freeness of a child to the most loving father imaginable. Remember, he who is the God of the universe is our heavenly Father. We have every reason to expect him to do us good (Rom. 8:32). Come in every time of need for the mercy and grace needed, expecting him to supply the need, for Christ’s sake.