Seek the LORD and His strength
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually. – Psalms 105:4
1 Chronicles 16:8-12
8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10 Exult in his holy name; rejoice you who worship the LORD.
11 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given.
The saying “There are no atheists in foxholes” is a commonly used phrase implying that during moments of intense uncertainty, stress, or fear, people often find themselves believing in a higher power. In the real-life scenarios of war, such an abrupt shift in faith is often referred to as a “foxhole conversion.”
Indeed, individuals identifying as atheists, agnostics, and similar beliefs do exist. But why is this the case? The holy scriptures portray a grim image of fallen humanity that has strayed away from the Father.
Psalms 53:2-3
2 God looks down from heaven at the human race to see if there is anyone who is wise and seeks God.
3 Everyone rejects God; they are all morally corrupt. None of them does what is right, not even one!
What motivates people to pursue God? It’s the Father who initiates. He makes the first move. We seek Him because He first sought us. It is love that makes the difference. The distinguishing factor is love. The Father extends His unconditional agape love towards us, and as we accept His love, we respond with our love for Him.
1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.
In Psalms 105:4, the Psalmist is encouraging the readers to seek God’s presence and draw on His strength continually. The phrase look to the Lord suggests reliance on God, especially in times of trouble or uncertainty. It’s a call to trust in God’s power and wisdom rather than our own.
The phrase seek His face always means to strive for a close, personal relationship with the Father and to desire His guidance and fellowship constantly. It underscores the importance of prayer and spiritual connection in maintaining a close relationship with God.
It’s a verse that offers comfort and encouragement, reminding children of the King of the continuous presence and unwavering strength of God.
1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face continually.
The phrase Seek the LORD and His strength encourages believers to look to God for strength, acknowledging that human power is limited and true strength comes from God alone. It’s a call to rely on God’s might and wisdom in all circumstances.
The command to us means to always strive for a deep, personal relationship with the Father. It signifies the desire to get closer to the Father and experience a more profound connection with Him. It involves nurturing an emotional bond with the Father. But it is much more than that. The objective is not merely to seek assistance from God for specific issues or challenges but to foster a continuous awareness of His love and peace at all times.
Knowing about God and knowing God are two entirely different things. Maintaining a close relationship with the Father is sadly infrequent in the Scriptures. Job illustrates the distinction in His encounter.
Job 42:5 I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes.
The Bible contains less than a handful of instances where individuals encountered God face-to-face. Moses stands unparalleled among all the Old Testament characters.
Exodus 33:11 Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.
Deuteronomy 34:10 There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.
The Father created humans to have a relationship with Him. Each child of the King knows the Father and has a personal relationship with Him. However, the extent of such knowing varies greatly. It ranges from simple recognition to deep intimacy. Face-to-face knowledge implies recognition and closeness. The bar is set high, an ongoing, active pursuit of God and reliance on His strength in every aspect of life.
REFLECT & PRAY
Each child of the King requires confidence and strength. The Father is our stronghold. He provides all the strength we need. It is incumbent upon us to recognize His omnipotence and place ourselves under His protection. We are to seek His strength. We are to seek His face, His presence forever.
Father thank You for seeking me in order that I might seek You.
INSIGHT
Psalms 105:4 Search for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek him.
Why is awareness of His strength so important? We are fallen creatures with limited physical and spiritual resources. Our spiritual strength and vitality are dependent on His spiritual force and energy. The Father strengthens us by imbuing our spirits with His strength (Spence-Jones). We learn to depend upon His strength rather than our own.
How do we do this?
We choose to surrender our desires and ambitions and conform to His. We align ourselves with Someone greater than ourselves and His Kingdom purposes.
Luke 9:23-24
23 Then he said to the crowd, If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me.
24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.
As children of the King, we do not live for ourselves alone. We surrender our lives to Him.
Psalms 105:4 Seek for the LORD and for his strength; continually seek his face.
There are two different Hebrew words translated as seek. The first is darash. Darash has the sense of getting or reaching something one desires,“to seek with care, make supplication with demands and prayers” (Tesh and Zorn). We are to be all in as we search for the Father and His strength.
The second word is baqash. Baqash has a sense of searching for, calling upon, or consulting. It frequently refers to seeking something that is lost, missing, or unknown. Way
Seeking His face implies a sense of neediness and urgency on the part of the seekers. Something is missing, and they must find and enter into it. They are to seek His face and enter into His presence.
Seeking the Lord is not a casual or occasional pursuit. Instead, it is earnest, intentional, and continuous. Seek the LORD and His strength evermore.
How do we seek the Lord, His strength, and His presence?
- Read and study the Scriptures. In them, we discover more than God’s nature or purposes. We discover what the Father is like as a person.
- Reflection and meditation. We spend time reflecting upon the Word and enjoy His presence.
- Prayer and worship. We develop a heartfelt communication with God, expressing gratitude and seeking His face. We acknowledge His goodness and greatness.
- Living in accordance with His kingdom standards.
- Walking in the spirit and allowing His power and grace to flow through us into the lives of others.
“Seek, seek, seek, we have the word three times, and though the words differ in the Hebrew, the sense is the same. It must be a blessed thing to seek, or we should not be thus stirred up to do so. To seek His face is to desire His presence, His smile, His favor consciously enjoyed. First, we seek him, then His strength, and then His face; from the personal reverence, we pass on to the imparted power, and then to the conscious favor. This seeking must never cease – the more we know, the more we must seek to know” (J. I. Packer).
“Never let the presence of a storm cause you to doubt the presence of God” (Craig Groeschel).
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© Dr. H 2023
Dr H Reflections 