Approaching the King

An audience before royalty involves protocol. In the Book of Esther, we read of King Xerxes, “When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. Then the king asked, ‘what is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.’” Esther 5:2-3.

The Old Testament speaks addresses the protocol required when approaching the Tabernacle. In fact, not just anyone could approach, regardless of their status or position in life. Only the priests were permitted entrance to the Tabernacle and even then, they had a set of regulations that had to be followed prior to their entrance. Even at that, only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place. There was no scepter. There was no chance God was going to allow anyone to approach without following His protocol, that’s how Holy He is.

The fact that God is Holy hasn’t changed. Because He is Perfect and Righteous and Just, He cannot break protocol. He still has to be revered as Holy; He cannot be in the presence of ungodliness. But imagine a King who loves and longs for intimacy with His love that He does what only He can do to make sure that access to Him is always available; Jesus is the Scepter that God holds out to us, the Scepter that cleanses us in order to permit us limitless – infinite – access to the King who offers more than half His Kingdom, He offers Himself.

“Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty – he is the King of glory. Selah,” Psalm 24:10.