This year I watched one of my two favorite holiday movies, Miracle on 34th Street on Christmas evening, after the presents were open and scattered, and the kids gone home. My husband, somewhat reluctantly sat beside me in our adjacent recliners.
I always enjoy this movie and always at Christmas time, but this year, one phrase from the movie remained in my mind over the next few days:
“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. All persons having business with the Special Term, Part 3 of the Supreme Court held in and for the County of New York, draw near and give your attendance, and ye shall be heard.”
The court bailiff issued this announcement, almost singing the oft’ repeated phrase, as the judge entered the courtroom and took his place on the bench.
The entire courtroom stood to their feet as the judge entered, and once he had sat down behind the bench, they were permitted to sit down.
Draw near.
Is anyone in need of justice?
Draw near.
Are you in an impossible situation, being taken advantage of, lacking the resources to defend yourself?
Draw near, and you will be heard.
The judge promises in that two word phrase, draw near, to listen intently, judge impartially, to deliver justice.
People need hope. I need hope. I need to know that someone hears me. Someone knows my voice, gives me the right to speak, and promises to listen and rule justly on my behalf.
It’s just a movie, right? Just an old phrase that used to be said in antiquated courtrooms.
No, not so. There is still justice. “But God is the judge, and justice comes from him.” Proverbs 29:26.
And the weary, broken, persecuted and discouraged may run into his courtroom and still find justice. His courtroom? He now presides over a court that is always open, never closed down for holidays, never off limits. His courtroom is also his Throne Room where his saints through the ages have found mercy and justice to help them in their times of need.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
Or in my favorite version, The Passion Translation:
“So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.”
So draw near! Yes, there’s still justice available. There’s still someone on the bench who will listen and rule in your best interests. A just judge, a true “justice” on the high court.
And not only does he beckon you to draw near to the court for justice. He invites you into relationship with him, to run into his heart.
Hebrews 6:18-20
“So it is impossible for God to lie for we know that his promise and his vow will never change! And now we have run into his heart to hide ourselves in his faithfulness. This is where we find his strength and comfort, for he empowers us to seize what has already been established ahead of time—an unshakable hope! We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God himself. Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold, and where Jesus, our forerunner, has gone in before us. He is now and forever our royal Priest like Melchizedek. “
It’s true, believe it! Join me before the Throne. Draw near and you will be heard!
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