Heb.4:16 – Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
This is one of the great truths taught to us in the book of Hebrews. First it says we can come boldly before the throne of grace. This is exactly opposite of the old Covenant. The Old Covenant warned us about approaching the holy God, with Christ as our High Priest we are given open access to come boldly to the throne of grace. In His presence we first find mercy, this means compassion and kindness to us from the Lord. Next we find grace, the supernatural influence of God upon our hearts that changes us totally. Next we find help, supernatural help. This is the Greek word boethia which is the nautical term to frap. It means to secure a wooden ship by wrapping it in cables or ropes. We find supernatural help in our time of need as we approach His throne of grace, we are literally wrapped up in Him to carry us through whatever storm we may face. Here is how Andrew Murray describes this verse.
“Let us therefore, with such an High Priest, draw near with boldness to the throne of grace. The word, draw near, is that used of the priests in the Old Testament. It is this one truth the Epistle seeks to enforce, that we can actually, in spiritual reality, draw near to God, and live in that nearness, in living fellowship with Him, all the day. The work of Christ, as our High Priest, is so perfect, and His power in heaven so divine, that He not only gives us the right and liberty to draw nigh, but by His priestly action He does in very deed and truth, so take possession of our inmost being and inward life, and draw and bring us nigh, that our life can be lived in God’s presence.”
The beauty of this revelation is that this is not just a special promise for special seasons of trial. This is a promise and an invitation to enter into a new way of life opened up to us by our heavenly High Priest. We draw near with boldness and we find help. Not just any kind of help involving our circumstances, the Lord Himself gets involved by surrounding us with Himself to see us through. In other words He is our help.
