I came across this verse the other day and have been thinking about it ever since...
1Chronicles 16:11....Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually.
What exactly does it mean to "seek God's face"? To me, it means to purpose for intimacy with Him, to desire Him, and it has much to do with prayer.When I first read the words, "seek His face", all I could picture was the closeness I have experienced face to face with Amber! She LOVES for you to be right up close to her face..and I LOVE to look in her eyes, take in her character, listen closely for her voice.It is THE BEST!
Seeking God's face must be like that! Such intimacy, such joy and closeness and desire to be as close as possible to Him and know everything about Him! Ahhhh! What a most precious picture to me!
Psalm 27:8...When You said, "Seek My face", my heart said.."You're face Lord I will seek".
But as I thought about this, I went to bed the other night thinking....."Do I seek God's face?....my attention on Him, wanting His attention, adoring Him, wanting to please him, wanting His love and approval...as much as I seek the "faces" of others???....Or as much as I seek FACEbook????....ouch!!!
What does it REALLY mean to be a "seeker" of God's face?
seek...to go in search of, look for
face...one of the definitions is expression, countenance
To seek God's face in every circumstance of life would be to want to know His reaction, His expression, His countenance in every situation of life. I picture this....watching His sadness, joy, compassion, tenderness, lovingkindness, hurt, anger, sorrow,....over the choices I make and the things I am going through. To seek Gods face is to WANT to know His reactions and how He feels about my life.
The word "seek" in 1 Chron 16:11 comes from the Hebrew word, "baqash", which means to search out(as in worship or prayer). The word "face" comes from the word "paneh", which means the face(as the part that turns!!!)
So here I am back at that picture of Amber....wanting to be soooo close to her face, her wanting to be so close to mine,...watching every expression, her reactions, her countenance, the way she turns to me and touches me and responds to me.....
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And you know what I realized?? The only way it happens is if I position myself there! Amber is ALWAYS overjoyed when I come face to face with her, but she cannot come to me. I must go to her. I have to be the one to go and purpose for it.....and so it is with God......
Psalm 27:7-8...Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice. Have mercy upon me and answer me. When You said, "Seek my face", my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek!"
..and The Message says it this way..."When my heart whispered, 'Seek God", my whole being replied,'I'm seeking Him!'"
Beauty-full words - and sweet pics! ... esp appreciate this type of "study" that you shared ... "The word "seek" in 1 Chron 16:11 comes from the Hebrew word, "baqash", which means to search out(as in worship or prayer). The word "face" comes from the word "paneh", which means the face(as the part that turns!!!)."
ReplyDeleteAlong that line, two of my favorite passages come to mind:
My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding —
3 indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
and
2 Corinthians 3: 15 - 18 (NIV)
15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
oops...that first passage was from Proverbs 2 ... but you probably knew that :)
ReplyDeleteTo Joyce and to Joyce... I say AMEN!!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE you women..whose hearts are on the same page as mine...thank you for reading and thinking about my ramblings...
ReplyDelete